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Can You Wear A Retainer After Years?

Writer Gabriel Cooper
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You’ll be thrilled when your orthodontic treatment is over. You won’t have to wear retainers or Invisalign and then you’ll get to view your beautiful smile. But you’re not done yet. You’ll need a retainer to keep your new grin. After braces are taken or Invisalign aligners are gone, your orthodontist will recommend a retainer. It’s best if you don’t wear a retainer after years or even months; your retainer will most likely not fit!

It’s vital that you wear this retainer for the whole period of time suggested. After you remove your braces or aligners, your teeth would gradually move to their natural positions. This is accurate for the first 2 weeks once your braces come off, but also later. Some patients just forget their retainer. Then they quit wearing it on purpose. If you’re not careful, retainers can break, deform from heat, or fall out.

If you haven’t worn your retainer in a long time, don’t try to put it back on. Your teeth might have begun to move, and attempting to push your retainers in may cause injury. If you have to shove your retainer back on your teeth, it isn’t a good fit. Leaving your retainer in a heated car is also bad. If that doesn’t go over your teeth properly, you’ll need to replace it. If you lost your retainer, call your orthodontist right away. If you break or lose your retainer, get replacements as fast as feasible.

Even if you haven’t worn your retainer for a long and your teeth have shifted, a new retainer may be enough. When teeth have regressed severely, some individuals need new orthodontic treatment. Fortunately, patients can get the modifications they need quickly. Patients with regressed teeth might consider Invisalign Lite. This Invisalign treatment takes six to eight months to complete. If your teeth just need minimal adjustments, you can choose Invisalign Express, which is even shorter. This treatment takes 10-20 weeks.