Generally speaking, after aligners are removed, teeth should look straight and gaps should appear minimal. Whether you are considering treatment with Invisalign or if you are already a patient, you may have questions about what happens after treatment ends. To maintain the beautiful new smile you have invested in, there are some extra steps and ongoing care that need to be taken. The post-treatment process and ongoing treatments that are best for you or your child will be determined in consultation with your orthodontist, but there are some basic things you should know.
Treatment for adults usually lasts about 12 months, but may vary for teens. After the treatment is finished, maintenance should begin. This is true regardless of the type of braces or alignment treatment you use, but maintenance is important to ensure that your teeth don't move after treatment with Invisalign. Consequently, if you do not follow the maintenance efforts correctly, the work can be undone, resulting in a fixed retainer consisting of a thin metal wire that sticks to the back of the teeth, on the side of the tongue.
These retainers stay in place permanently and offer extra assurance that your teeth won't move after treatment with Invisalign. This method means effort on your part as it requires cleaning and caring for the device. It is sturdy but not indestructible and food can accumulate with this device. Finally, contact Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics today to schedule your Invisalign treatment consultation.
There is no reason to postpone a visit to our helpful team of professionals. Our goal is to help you get the most out of your smile. After completing treatment with Invisalign, you enter the retention phase where we ensure that your results last well beyond treatment. The retention phase incorporates the use of a retainer which keeps the teeth in the desired position over time, minimizing the risk of natural age-related changes in the teeth.
Retainers decrease the likelihood of teeth falling out of position by allowing gums, bones, and ligaments to rearrange around teeth after Invisalign. Just take out the buckets and brush your teeth as usual. Clean the trays with cold water and replace them when you're done. You may be wondering if your visits to the orthodontist will stop after the Invisalign procedures have been completed.
While you won't go as often as you did during treatment, there will still be some visits to look forward to. You can expect a follow-up visit a few weeks after the last tray and be sure to ask your orthodontist about purchasing multiple sets of Invisalign retainers to cover if you need one in the future. If you take a look at the pictures of the results of treatment with Invisalign, it's amazing how much your teeth actually move from start to finish. Wearing a retainer after Invisalign or Invisalign Teen is the only way to keep your teeth as close as possible to where they were when treatment ended.
Invisalign aligners are not designed for extended use, as they don't apply enough pressure to keep your teeth in the correct position for a long period of time. It is normal for your teeth to move slightly after you have your Invisalign braces removed or after you stop using Invisalign. In addition to treating adults, doctors with a star on their icon also treat teens with Invisalign clear aligners. However, as momentous as it may be, there is a little more work to be done after Invisalign, Invisalign Teen or after finishing any orthodontic treatment.
Now that you know what to expect during the process of straightening your teeth with Invisalign, you probably have a few more questions. It's an exciting time when he realizes he's taking off his latest set of Invisalign aligners and reveals his new smile, knowing he won't be getting another set of aligners on his next office visit. Here are some common questions asked about Invisalign: What type of retainer should I use? There are two types: firstly, a fixed retainer consisting of a thin metal wire that sticks to the back of the teeth on the side of the tongue; secondly, a transparent retainer that looks like an Invisalign tray often referred to as a 3D or Essix retainer. How often should I wear my retainer? Your orthodontist will advise on how often you should wear it depending on your individual needs but generally speaking it should be worn every night for at least 6 months after completing treatment with Invisalign or any other orthodontic treatment.
If you want to maintain your beautiful new smile after completing treatment with Invisalign, contact Gorton & Schmohl Orthodontics today and schedule an appointment with our helpful team of professionals.
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