Completing your Invisalign treatments can be an exciting moment. Your dentist will finalize your perfect smile and remove the aligners that you’ve been wearing. It can be a long journey, but to see a perfect smile in the mirror or in photos can be life-changing. That’s why you need to protect that smile from the dangers of teeth shifting. Do you need a fixed retainer after Invisalign, or will other types work too?
A fixed retainer after Invisalign can keep your teeth in the perfect position but is that the only option that will work? Your dentist may suggest a fixed retainer, but it is becoming more and more uncommon. These are typically installed by the dentist to high schoolers who have completed Invisalign. Wearing a retainer is a lifelong responsibility and an important one at that. If you don’t wear a retainer, then your teeth will shift back to their natural position. A fixed retainer after Invisalign will keep your set of teeth protected at all times but it does come with some cons.
First, it is made from wire and cemented onto the back of your teeth. There will be a slight gap between the teeth and the wire, making it magnetic for food particles to get stuck between. You’ll have to thoroughly brush and use a waterpik to remove the food from the wire. Your oral hygiene will suffer if you neglect to clean the area of your fixed retainer as plaque and tartar will build up.
Second, a fixed retainer after Invisalign will be attached to your teeth at all times. This means that you’ll know it’s there. Whether your tongue is constantly running over it or pressing against it, it’s hard to ignore the fixed retainer sometimes. It can also potentially snap if you have trauma to the mouth. The wire may break and it could potentially poke into your gums or teeth. Your fixed retainer will need to be repaired by your dentist which can be a costly expense.
While you do need a retainer after Invisalign, it doesn’t need to be a fixed retainer. Removable retainers work just as well, and can be very affordable. You can ask your dentist to craft you one, but that will likely be an expensive bill. Clear plastic retainers from the dentist vary in price depending on location. Some might be between $500 – $900 when you live in a big city like Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York. Rural dentists may charge $200 – $400 for a set of retainers.
If you want to skip a fixed retainer after Invisalign and elect to go with a removable one, there are online options. SportingSmiles has been in business since 2009, crafting premium retainers that are perfect after Invisalign, and typically half the cost of the dentist. These retainers give the exact same protection as a fixed retainer, when you wear them at night.
To receive a SportingSmiles retainer, all you would need to do is place an order and we’ll send you our patented impression kit. You’ll take easy-at-home impressions and then ship them back with free three-way shipping. Our expert dental lab will craft premium retainers and ship them back for you. SportingSmiles offers the ability to keep your impressions digitally on file for life, or if you are in an extreme hurry, we offer emergency retainers that you will receive in 6-7 business days guaranteed.
A removable retainer will prevent teeth from shifting just as a fixed retainer after Invisalign would. The perks include not getting food stuck in the wire, the ability to remove it whenever you want, and being able to give it a thorough cleaning. If you’re interested in retainers and you’ve completed Invisalign, SportingSmiles is a great option and the entire process can be completed from home.
