Once you’re all done with your clear aligner treatment, you might be excited about your straighter smile. You worked so hard to get it after all, and you’re finally able to show it off. While you may be ready to head out of the office and flaunt it, you will be fitted with a retainer first. While this can dampen your excitement, it’s a crucial part of maintaining your results. Here’s why you need it in the first place and how long you’ll wear it for.
Why Is a Retainer Necessary After Clear Aligners?
No matter the kind of orthodontics, a retainer is needed afterward. As you might be able to guess by the name, it helps keep your results by holding your teeth steady.
It’s needed because there’s a risk your smile shifts back to its original state since your jawbone is spongy after your treatment. This happened to the bone because of the pressure your trays placed, but it allowed for movement in the first place. It just needs time to harden and stabilize around the tooth roots’ new alignment.
So, How Long Will I Wear a Retainer For?
To make a long story short, however long you want to keep your straight grin for is the answer to this question. Before you imagine that you’ll keep your retainer in for a lifetime, you will slowly reduce how often you wear it.
You’ll likely need to keep it in for 22 hours every day for the first two to four months. Afterward, you may be able to switch to wearing it at night only. Your timeline may be different, so your dentist can let you know a more accurate one for you.
What Should I Do to Care for My Retainer?
Since you’ll need to consistently wear your retainer, it’s important you keep it in great shape. Thankfully, taking care of it isn’t much different from the clear aligners you’re already used to. So, here’s a quick refresher of general guidelines you should follow:
- Only have water while wearing your trays and don’t drink or eat anything else.
- Put the appliance in its designated case. Avoid wrapping it in a napkin or keeping it on a counter, as it can be accidentally thrown away.
- Brush it twice a day with gentle, clear soap to clean off bacteria that might be on it.
In the end, while you may not be too excited about having a retainer, they are a crucial part of keeping your smile straight. Stick with it for a short while, and then you can slowly start to wean off of it. That way, you can preserve your aligned grin and show it off confidently.
About the Practice
At Beacon Dentistry of Weatherford, you benefit from a compassionate team of dentists who look after you and your oral health. We are dedicated to helping the local community get the straighter bites they deserve with clear aligners. By being by your side throughout your treatment, we can help you avoid delays to your results. If you have any questions about your retainer, schedule an appointment or call our office at (817) 761-0739.