After your Invisalign treatment, it is important to keep your teeth straight by wearing a retainer. Your dentist or orthodontist will tell you how often to wear it. There are a few types of retainers you may get, including an Essix or a Vivera retainer. Read on to learn more.
After Invisalign treatment, the teeth can still shift back to the old positions. This is known as a relapse. A retainer will be able to keep the teeth in the correct position by placing continuous pressure on the teeth. Depending on the treatment, a patient may need to wear a retainer all the time or only during the night. But in most cases, a patient will begin by wearing a retainer all the time and gradually go down to only a few nights per week.
After an Invisalign treatment, a patient will most likely get a clear retainer. There are two types of clear retainers. The first is an Essix retainer. This type of retainer is similar in appearance to an Invisalign tray. It will last between three to five years, depending on other habits, such as tooth grinding.
The second type of clear retainer is the Vivera retainer. This is Invisalign’s brand of retainer. These retainers are extremely durable and will last longer than the Essix retainer. The patient will also receive four sets of retainers, so when one wears out, the patient will not have to get it replaced. Patients can also get new retainers shipped to them because Invisalign saves the 3D scan of each patient’s teeth.
It is important to keep retainers clean. It is even more essential to keep retainers clean than Invisalign trays because the retainer will not be replaced every two weeks. If the retainers are not cleaned properly each day, the bacteria and plaque can build up over time.
Patients should not brush the retainers with toothpaste. Because toothpaste is abrasive, it can scratch the surface of retainers. A rough surface allows bacteria to remain in the tiny scratches on the retainer. Instead, a soft toothbrush with antibacterial soap should be used to thoroughly clean every surface of the retainer.
To simplify the retainer cleaning process, patients can get tablets that are made for cleaning retainers. These tablets will dissolve in a cup of water. The retainer can be dropped in the solution and left for 10 to 20 minutes, which will allow bacteria and plaque to dissolve from the surface of the retainer. It is important to clean the retainer after this, so no solution remains.
It is imperative to wear a retainer after Invisalign treatment. Because patients must wear retainers at least a few nights a week for the rest of their lives, choosing a durable retainer is important. Taking care of the retainer will help it last a long time. It can also prevent bacteria from building up in the patient’s mouth.
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