Retainers are a crucial part of orthodontics or Invisalign® in Cary, NC. Retainers represent the retention phase and help protect your investment by preventing orthodontic relapse.
Orthodontic relapse means your teeth, without retention, begin to shift back to pretreatment alignment, which means you spent all that time undergoing treatment for no reason!
Retention is a way to protect your new alignment in the long term.
Life After Invisalign: The Truth About Retainers
Some dentists consider the retention phase of orthodontics the most important element because, without this phase, treatment is pointless. In other words, without a retainer, your new gorgeous smile alignment can shift back to pretreatment alignment.
Typically, you wear your retainer more at the beginning, but then shift to nighttime retention only. Your dentist will let you know what to expect.
Signs Your Retainer Needs an Upgrade
Here are a few signs you might need a new orthodontic retainer:
- It is broken or damaged
- It is loose or shifty
- It is warped or thinning
- You notice a bad odor or discoloration
- You notice your teeth are shifting
Remember, keeping your retainer in good shape (and replacing it when the time comes) protects your smile alignment and dental health!
We encourage you to bring your retainer to checkups and teeth cleanings for ongoing evaluations with our Invisalign dentist in Cary, NC. If there are issues with the retainer, we can repair or replace it.
If you damage it between checkups and cleanings, please call us!
Protecting Your Investment in Cary, NC
Are you ready to lock in your perfect smile? Do you need a retainer or a retainer upgrade? To learn more about our treatments and services or to book an appointment with the dentist, call us today at (919) 859-6633 to get started.
We are pleased to accept CareCredit financing and encourage you to ask about our in-house membership plan if you don’t have dental insurance.