You might be excited about finally finishing your Invisalign treatment. After several months of being diligent with your tray routine, you can now show off the straighter smile you’ve been working hard to get. However, before you flaunt it, your dentist will give you a retainer. While you might not be too excited about this, it’s important you wear it as directed. Here are three reasons you should stick with it.
1.) Wearing Your Retainer Prevents Orthodontic Relapse
While you get a healthier bite with clear aligners, your grin won’t stay in one place forever. It’s natural it’ll shift over time due to several different reasons, such as aging, oral habits (like nail biting or tongue thrusting), or even from their own biological memory! This is known as orthodontic relapse, but your teeth can move back to their original positions.
This can happen because your gum and bone tissue aren’t used to the new placement. They will need time to harden and resolidify, reducing the risk of this situation. Thankfully, wearing your retainer can give your body the time it needs to get adjusted. While you’ll wear it as you did with your Invisalign at first, you can eventually switch to only at night.
2.) They May Help You Save Money
Building off the point above, if you develop misalignment again, then you may need a second round of orthodontics to correct the issue. This will be more time and money out of your pocket, so wearing this oral appliance can prevent you from needing to pay for more treatments.
Not only that, but you may have an easier time taking care of your smile. Since more of the surfaces are exposed, you can effectively floss and brush, getting rid of any plaque that can cause cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems that can be costly to fix.
3.) You’ll Get to Enjoy Your Results for a Lifetime
Many people tend to feel more confident about their revamped grin after Invisalign, and you may as well. You might want to show off your results for as long as possible, and retainers help you do that for a lifetime. If your teeth shift back, then you may start to feel that familiar self-consciousness you once had. However, by keeping everything in check, you can continue flaunting your smile and feel your best about it.
About the Practice
At Parklane Family Dentistry, our team is proud to serve the Frisco community with comprehensive dental care. Led by Dr. Parul Vashisht and Dr. Richard D’Avanzo, we are happy to offer Invisalign as a way to achieve the straighter teeth you want. With an orthodontist on staff, we can help you throughout your journey with these trays and afterward; that way, you know how to protect your results. If you have any questions, schedule an appointment or call our office at (469) 731-0391.