When is Wearing Invisalign Retainer Required?

Patients finishing up their Invisalign program were briefed in the beginning about retainer usage. If you conveniently forgot, or need a reminder of how important the retention phase of your care is, our Invisalign provider emphasizes retainer wear as absolutely essential. You may not be enthusiastic about wearing a retainer after so many weeks of aligners. But choosing not to wear it could undermine the whole process.

Teeth like to move around, even after being wrestled into position by an orthodontic. This is because the periodontal ligament, which holds the teeth in place, is very elastic. Left to its own devices, it relaxes its hold. A retainer accounts for this relaxation, and holds the teeth firmly against it.

Once your aligner phases are complete, your doctor may approve your last tray for use as a temporary retainer. However, more permanent retainers should be ordered immediately. You’re going to wear your retainer around the clock for at least six months, and an Invisalign aligner is not built to withstand that much use.

Dentists vary in their usage rates, but some of them prefer their patients to keep wearing their retainers all day every day for as many as two years after treatment ends.

Ideally, you’ll at least sleep wearing your Invisalign retainer every night, for the rest of your life.