What Happens After Invisalign Treatment – Navigating Life After Completing Your Treatment

You have an oddly-shaped smile. You go through various teeth alignment options. You might want an aesthetically pleasing smile while you get the best results, so you choose Invisalign. You wear a set of plastic trays. Finally, after 12-18 months, your orthodontist removes the last tray.

Most of the time, patients at this stage have numerous questions on their mind. What happens after Invisalign treatment? What type of maintenance routine do you need to follow? Do you have to wear retainers? If yes, then how long? If you are wearing an Invisalign and ponder upon the same questions, then this blog is just the right place for you.

Here, we will explore what happens when Invisalign is finished. We will also discuss nuances like the final Invisalign tray, wire placement, retention, and so on. Let’s dive in.

The Final Invisalign Tray

It is one of the first questions that comes to mind as you near the end of your Invisalign journey. Many people also wonder whether they will need to keep wearing aligners after completing treatment.

Here is the truth: your teeth are not completely set the moment your last tray comes off. The jawbone surrounding your teeth holds them in place only partially. During treatment, as your teeth shift, the surrounding bone and tissues soften and remodel. This process temporarily weakens their stability and makes your teeth more likely to move back toward their original positions if not properly supported.

Therefore, it’s critical to ensure that your teeth retain their new desired position while letting new bones settle properly. Note that it probably takes 9-12 months for bones to stabilize and support and help new teeth to stay in place. Also, your orthodontist must check if there’s any distortion to the teeth’s shape due to the deformation of trays. Research by Progress in Orthodontics says with Invisalign, deformation of the tray must be carefully checked to avoid pain and discomfort.

What To Expect With The Last Invisalign Tray

Once you finish wearing your Invisalign trays, your jawbone begins to stabilize around your newly aligned teeth. This means the bone and surrounding tissues are adjusting to hold your teeth in their new positions.

During the first 12 months after treatment, you will need to wear retainers regularly. This period is crucial because your jawbone is still strengthening and adapting to the new alignment.

After about a year, you can gradually reduce the frequency of wearing your retainers to three to five times a week. As your jawbone continues to mature, your teeth will become more stable. However, minor shifts can still occur over time, which is why consistent retainer use remains important.

Wire Placement After Invisalign Treatment

After Invisalign treatment, the main goal of placing wires is to ensure that your teeth don’t move from their newly achieved position. Keep in mind they always shift back to their original position if ignored after treatment. The wire here will act as a retainer that holds your teeth in a new position and prevents them from shifting.

Moreover, your orthodontist will place wires on both the lower jaw or mandible and the upper jaw or maxilla. This will make sure that your teeth get proper support and remain in place. This wire is usually made of metals like stainless steel or titanium. They are tailored so they fit the shape of your teeth and gums. Your orthodontist will then connect these wires at the back of your teeth using dental adhesive.

Retention Phase After Invisalign

You will need to wear retainers after taking out your Invisalign. They help retain your newly shaped teeth in the right position and restore jawbones. But ignoring retainers altogether can lead to several consequences. This also includes ruining the finished treatment. Besides, you may have to wear these retainers for at least 22 hours daily. Once your jawbones are set, you can reduce the frequency of wearing them.

Along with this, numerous kinds of retention appliances are available these days. For example, there are internally attached retainers made from metal wire or clear plastic. These are made of thin wires and are tailor-made to ensure they bond perfectly at the back surface of your teeth. Similarly, maxilla splints help maintain the position of your upper teeth and are made of hard plastic. They will fit over the top teeth and hold them in place.

Retainer Care and Maintenance

Your work doesn’t end with wearing retainers. They need proper routine and oral hygiene just like Invisalign or braces. Here are a few dos and don’ts of retainer you need to keep up your sleeves:

• Never clean your retainer with toothpaste. Scrub your retainers with soap and water or retainer cleansing tablets. Cleansers will also work as a disinfectant that removes plaque or bacteria from retainers.
• Take extra care when having meals or drinking. Take the retainer out before taking food. After that, brush your teeth, rinse your retainers, and wear them. In the case of plastic retainers, avoid hot beverages. The heat often ends up melting the plastic and changing its shape.
• If you are involved in playing sports, then go for durable wire retainers. Also, steer clear of these two things when wearing retainers:

– Smoking as it makes retainers yellowish.

– Chewing gum or sticky candy as they damage retainers.

Regular Dental Checkups

Regular dental checkups are vital to ensure that the results of your treatment sustains. Also, only an orthodontist can professionally remove the hardened plaque from your retainers. So, make sure you pay regular visits for routine checkups.

Your orthodontist here will ensure your teeth and gums stay in excellent and desired shape. If there are any discrepancies or concerns, the routine checkup will help detect and resolve them early.

Conclusion

In this blog, you have learned:

• What happens after Invisalign treatment
• What happens after Invisalign is finished
• Why wire placement and retention are necessary.

The actual journey starts after you remove your Invisalign. Your jawbones and teeth will still adjust to the new changes and be vulnerable to damage. So, don’t ignore the significance of routine checkups. Sit with orthodontists and prepare a post-treatment plan to ensure you get the perfect dazzling smile without hassles.

Sources

Consensus app: 2 studies included

https://www.realself.com/

American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)