LAST UPDATED: MAY 23, 2017
What Happens After Invisalign Treatment Is Completed?
Invisalign is a wonderful treatment for misaligned teeth. It can be life-changing for some people. However, not everyone knows what happens after Invisalign treatment. There's a lot of important follow-up treatments that you need to go through. Your orthodontist in King George should be able to help you understand how your particular case will play out. In this article, we will lay out the general path for what happens after Invisalign treatment ends. One note before we start: looking up "orthodontist near me" is not enough to ensure that you will be getting adequate care for your teeth. You need to find a good orthodontist to manage your Invisalign treatment and follow-up. The orthodontist might be attached to a dental practice or operating alone, but either way, make sure that you see one.
FAQ
Will I need to wear retainers?
First of all, the important thing to know is that the treatment does not end when Invisalign does. You will need to wear a retainer in order to ensure that your teeth maintain their new and correct straightness. While Invisalign has moved your teeth to a better alignment, without maintenance, they will eventually regress to their original state. Without the Invisalign treatment in the first place, your teeth would never have become straight at all. It will be necessary to maintain your teeth in their improved state. Getting Invisalign has to offer is critical to the long-term appearance of your teeth.
How often do I need to wear my retainer?
The retainer will not be necessary at all times. Keep in touch with your orthodontist. Before too much time passes, you will be able to use the retainer only at night; it will not be necessary during the day. So while the retainer is necessary to keep your teeth in order, they are not an obstacle to your daily life. Simply put them in just before going to bed and take them out in the morning.
Do not try to use your final Invisalign tray as your permanent retainer. These trays are not meant for long-term use. While these trays start out clean and pristine, they become dirty with repeated use beyond their intended duration.
For either kind of retainer, there are a few rules that you need to keep in mind. First of all, never eat sticky foods while wearing a retainer. This is a recipe for disaster. Food can get stuck in the retainer and cause no end of problems. If you are going to eat, just take the retainer out and put it back in again after finishing.
Can I drink warm beverages with a retainer?
Next, it is important to avoid hot drinks if you have a tray retainer. The warmth of the liquid can deform and even melt the plastic. This will change the retainer's shape and can affect the way it holds your teeth. A deformed retainer will not keep your teeth straight properly. This defeats the whole purpose of having a retainer in the first place. Just like when you want to eat, if you are going to drink coffee, hot chocolate, or any other hot beverage, take the retainer out first.
How do I take care of my retainer?
Any time you take your retainer out, you should at least rinse it out before putting it back in again. At a minimum, you should do this once a day to keep the retainer clean. This advice applies whether you have a wire retainer or a tray retainer. Tray retainers tend to be more subtle and transparent. Both kinds require regular cleaning as upkeep.
Before you go searching for "Orthodontists near me" on Google, remember that it takes a good orthodontist to properly evaluate and handle both Invisalign and the follow-up. It is important for you to know the outcomes of Invisalign. Invisalign is a great option for treatment. Using Invisalign is much better than letting your teeth go untreated, and in the long run, you will be able to enjoy straight teeth and a proper bite.
Post Treatment
As long as you keep the instructions for post-treatment care in mind, you will be able to enjoy a great quality of life. You can brush and floss normally with the retainer, and as you progress through the treatment; you will have more and more freedom.
Wearing a retainer is a small, but necessary follow-up. Finding an orthodontist for Invisalign patients is a great first step to dental health. Keep up with the regular dental care that you do and make sure that you stay in touch with your orthodontist. Alert them promptly if anything feels different or if the retainer becomes damaged. They will need to take a look at your teeth and the retainer and decide if you need any corrective work or a new retainer. Whether you have a retainer for both upper and lower teeth or just for one set, is up to your individual situation. Some people may not need a retainer at all, but most will, so do not expect not to have one, either wire or plastic.
Contact our office, with three convenient locations in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and King George, to schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Beecroft today. Enjoy your life with straighter teeth!
Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia
Phone: 540-898-2200
What Happens After Invisalign Treatment Is Completed?