Your Guide To Choosing A Retainer After Invisalign
Posted on: 10 October 2019
After faithfully wearing your Invisalign aligners for the period of time recommended by your dentist, your treatment is almost over. Your teeth are looking much straighter, and it's about time to retire your aligners. To preserve the results of your Invisalign treatment, it's important to wear a post-treatment retainer on a daily basis.
Most dentists recommend wearing this retainer daily for at least a few months. After this initial period, you can usually cut back to your retainer time to only nighttime wearings. Make sure to follow all the instructions provided by your dentist, or you will teeth will start to shift. Follow this guide when it's time to choose your post-Invisalign retainer.
Determine How Much Time You Want to Spend on Dental Hygiene
Certain kinds of retainers require more intensive dental hygiene than other options. For example, one retainer alternative is a fixed metal retainer. This retainer consists of a metal wire that's attached to a piece of acrylic. The wire is glued to the front teeth, and the retainer itself isn't removed for months or even a year. Dentists find that this style is also highly effective at preventing teeth that were formerly extremely crooked from shifting.
Though a fixed metal retainer is one solution if you're concerned that you won't remember to wear your retainer, it requires meticulous hygiene. The permanent presence of the wire makes it difficult for you to brush and floss your teeth. Food particles and bacteria like to accumulate behind the wires. A removable retainer, whether plastic or metal, makes it easier for you to brush and floss your teeth.
Consider Your Own Preferences Regarding the Appearance of Your Retainer
After wearing clear aligners for their treatment, most patients don't want to use a metal retainer, at least when they're in the period where they have to wear the retainer the whole day. If you prefer a clear retainer, there are numerous options for you to choose from. Some styles are even molded specifically to your teeth based on a digital scan to ensure they're as effective as possible and comfortable to wear. You're more likely to wear your retainer if you don't mind its appearance.
Keep Your Budget in Mind
Your budget is another component that should guide your retainer selection. Though custom-created plastic retainers are a fantastic choice, they tend to be one of the most costly alternatives.
A regular plastic retainer is usually cheaper, and a conventional metal retainer is typically your most budget-friendly option. However, if you don't wear the retainer, this savings is of little use if your teeth shift and you have to pay for more orthodontic treatment.
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