Do You Have to Wear Invisalign Forever?
Invisalign is a procedure that helps to straighten teeth. It’s efficient in treating crooked, misaligned, or gapped teeth.
However, most people are always curious about what happens if they stop wearing Invisalign, or do they have to wear Invisalign forever?
Here we will learn more about Invisalign and what happens after completing your treatment.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign works by applying gentle pressure to misaligned teeth, making them move into the right place. It uses a clear series of aligners to achieve that.
Aligners are created in a way that they have a small space to accommodate the tooth once it moves to the new position. It takes about two weeks for a tooth to shift to a new place, and once that happens, you will need to get a new aligner.
For Invisalign to work, you have to wear the aligners for 20 hours every day.
If you desire to learn more about how Invisalign works, call or visit an Invisalign dentist near you.
Does Invisalign Have to Be Worn Forever?
No, you don’t have to wear Invisalign forever. The severity of your case determines how long you will have to wear Invisalign, which can be 12 months or more.
Upon completing your Invisalign treatment, you will have to wear a retainer. It helps to keep teeth in the desired position. It’s common to wear a retainer after any teeth straightening process.
During Invisalign treatment, the jawbone softens partially to allow teeth to move in the correct position. Therefore, the jawbone, gum, and surrounding tissues aren’t strong enough to hold the teeth in place. As a result, you have to wear a retainer until a new bone is formed.
The first few weeks after getting a retainer, you will have to wear it for at least 22 hours every day. The amount of time to wear a retainer decreases with time.
After wearing a retainer for several months, your dentist will instruct you to wear the retainer at night when going to bed.
Are you wondering what happens if you stop wearing Invisalign, or what happens if you take them off for a few days? Let’s look at that.
What Happens If You Stop Wearing Invisalign?
A couple of things may happen if you stop wearing Invisalign. They include:
- Teeth shifting
Ligaments are what connect teeth to the jawbone. Orthodontic treatments put gentle pressure on the ligaments, which in turn guides teeth into the correct position. Taking out your clear aligners for too long will make your teeth shift back to their original position.
- Poor fit
In some situations, if you try placing the aligners over your teeth, they may fail to fit correctly. In that case, you may need a new set of aligners or go back to an earlier set of aligners, depending on what a dentist recommends.
- Prolonged treatment
Every time you remove your aligners or forget to wear them, the treatment time gets longer. Although every case differs, most people take a year to complete the treatment. Your commitment to wearing your aligners determines your treatment time.
- You will ruin your routine.
With Invisalign, having a routine is an optimal way to acquire your desired smile. Removing your aligners to brush and eat and replacing them immediately following that routine makes your treatment consistent and effective. However, if you start breaking that routine and leave your aligners out more often, you will make a bad habit that will be difficult to break.
- Stick to your routine
One thing contributing to your Invisalign treatment success is sticking to a routine from the first time you acquire a set of aligners.
Heavenly Smiles Dentist offers Invisalign and much more; call to schedule an appointment today.
Let’s look at how to take good care of retainers.
Retainers: How to Take of Them
Below are several things you can do to take care of your retainers.
Ensure your retainer is always clean and know its whereabouts.
Using toothpaste to clean your retainer can damage it, instead use either of the following:
- Soap and water
- Tablets designed to clean retainers
Be more careful when drinking or eating. For example, sipping a hot beverage while wearing your plastic retainers can make them melt and alter their shape.
Always remove your retainer before eating, flossing, or brushing.