Tag Archives: lingual retainers

Invisalign

Must I Wear a Retainer After Invisalign?

I’m getting my teeth straightened. Yay! My parents never had the money before but dad’s new job is waaaay better. Because I’m in high school my parents are getting me Invisalign. I’m super excited about having invisible braces but wondered if I’ll have to wear a retainer afterward. That won’t be invisible too, will it?

Lacey B.

Dear Lacey,

Image top: A woman putting on her Invisalign aligners. Image bottom: a woman smiling with Invisalign on her teeth

Congratulations on getting Invisalign. It has a very high patient satisfaction rate. I think you’ll love them, not to mention how much you’ll love having straight teeth. After any orthodontic treatment, it’s common to wear a retainer for several months to a year. This helps to keep your teeth in their proper position. It used to be the only option you had in a retainer were the metal bars. That’s no longer the case.

Retainer Options After Invisalignwa

  • Traditional metal bar retainers.
  • Lingual retainers. These are metal retainers that fit behind your teeth where no one can see them.
  • Retainers with clear aligners, like Invisalign

The key is letting your dentist know ahead of time that you want options for your retainer. Tell him you’re hoping to have discreet treatment, such as you had with your Invisalign.

It’s also a good idea to talk to your parents about it too, hopefully ahead of time, so they’re not blindsided at your appointment. They’ll likely be grateful you’re already taking the initiative and are doing the research ahead of time.

Compliance with Invisalign

It used to be that Invisalign was only for adults. The fear with teens is that they would lose the aligners or wouldn’t remember to keep them in the prescribed amount of time. While Invisalign is an incredible treatment and will likely work faster for you than traditional braces, they only work if you keep them in the right amount of time.

You sound like a very responsible teenager, so I don’t think that will be an issue for you.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone. Check out his smile gallery.

Invisalign

Can I Use My Invisalign Aligner Instead of My Retainer?

I’m finishing up my Invisalign treatment. I was scared I wouldn’t like it but it’s been awesome. Only the friends I told knew I wore the aligners. They were really comfortable. My friends always complained about how their braces hurt, but mine never hurt. I’m supposed to get a retainer, but that’s going to be metal. Can I just wear the last aligner instead of getting the metal prison?

Lisa L.

Dear Lisa,

I”m glad you enjoyed your Invisalign treatment. Most patients love it. I wouldn’t recommend using your aligner in place of a retainer though. It’s not that it will hurt your teeth. And, it will keep your teeth in place, but it isn’t designed for long-term use. Two things are going to happen. First, it’s going to get a little “used” feeling and you’ll want to switch it out. Then, it will also start to wear down.

So you know, you’re no longer relegated to metal tooth prison with retainers anymore. There are more options these days. There are retainers which are clear plastic, like your Invisalign and wrap around your teeth. Others can cover the top of your mouth. They can even customize them to have different colors or designs.

Another option is a lingual retainer. It is metal, but it goes behind your teeth so no one will see them.

The key is to talk to your dentist. Let him or her know why you’re not wanting to wear the retainer. They can make sure you know all your options and help you make a choice you’ll be completely comfortable with.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.