This is a common practice in orthodontics and you will receive instructions on how to use the retainer throughout the day initially and for shorter periods gradually. You can be sure that your treatment with Invisalign is permanent and will provide you with straighter teeth for life if you follow the orthodontist's instructions. When you finish your treatment with braces or clear aligners, your teeth aren't the only thing we want to keep in place. To understand why retainers are so important to long-term success, it's helpful to know more about your teeth and how orthodontics work to move them.
Teeth aren't just accessories in the jaw. Each one is held in its cavity by elastic ligaments that connect the roots to the bone. These ligaments are living tissues affected by the movement of the teeth, and it is this accessory that allows the small movements of the teeth during treatment. Once the initial treatment period is complete, the results of months of using Invisalign aligners are designed to last a lifetime.
Each set of aligners displaces teeth by up to 0.2 mm, changing the shape of the dental arch to align the teeth. Patients are directed to wear their aligners 22 hours a day and, as directed by their doctor, to change the set of aligners every 1 to 3 weeks throughout treatment. With 3D mouth scans and sophisticated software, an orthodontist can explore different treatment approaches using an aligner to refine the best treatment plan for you and even show you what your final smile will look like even before the first aligners are made. Aligners are a series of custom-made, removable transparent plastic trays that gradually and consistently move teeth with gentle force from their original state to a more optimal treated state. Essix retainers are made entirely of a transparent plastic material and look very similar to the clear aligners used with a system such as Invisalign, making them much less visible than traditional wire retainers.
You've probably seen advertisements on TV and on the Internet that promise clear aligners or invisible braces that can straighten your teeth quickly, often without the hassle of traditional braces. Initially, unless you have a permanent retainer attached in place, retainers should be used full time, except when consuming food or brushing your teeth, similar to clear aligners. But what happens after you finish your treatment? Are clear aligners permanent? The answer is yes! Clear aligners are designed to be permanent solutions for straightening your teeth. However, it is important to remember that they must be worn as instructed by your orthodontist in order for them to remain effective. If you don't wear them as instructed, your teeth may start shifting back into their original positions. Your orthodontist will provide you with instructions on how often you should wear your clear aligners after completing your treatment.
Generally speaking, it is recommended that you wear them at least once a day for 15 minutes at a time in order to maintain your new smile. This will help keep your teeth in their new positions and prevent them from shifting back into their original positions. It is also important to remember that clear aligners are not designed to be worn all day long like traditional braces. They should only be worn for short periods of time in order to maintain your new smile. If you wear them too often or for too long, they may cause discomfort or even damage your teeth. In conclusion, clear aligners are permanent solutions for straightening your teeth if worn as instructed by your orthodontist.
They should only be worn for short periods of time in order to maintain your new smile and prevent your teeth from shifting back into their original positions.
