{"id":170,"date":"2026-09-23T20:07:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T20:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elwoodavenuedental.com\/blog\/?p=170"},"modified":"2026-09-23T20:07:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T20:07:29","slug":"invisalign-aftercare-questions-retainers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elwoodavenuedental.com\/blog\/invisalign-aftercare-questions-retainers\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHow Long Will I Have to Wear My Retainer?\u201d & Other Post-Invisalign Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Woman<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It takes about 12 to 18 months on average to complete an Invisalign treatment<\/a>. During that time, you\u2019ll wear your aligners for 22-hours every day, maintain good oral hygiene habits, and clean your trays on a regular basis. But what happens after<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar to an orthodontic treatment using traditional braces, most patients do have to wear a retainer after Invisalign. The specifics of retainer wear and maintenance isn\u2019t exactly common knowledge, so if you have more questions, keep reading. You\u2019ll find answers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is The Point of A Retainer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The point of orthodontics is indeed to straighten out crooked teeth. However, even after the treatment goal is achieved, teeth will naturally slide back out of place \u2013 unless<\/em> there\u2019s some sort of intervention. This is the exact problem a retainer is designed to resolve. Instead of applying gentle pressure to move teeth, a retainer applies pressure in order to retain<\/em> your teeth\u2019s new and improved alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Will I Have to Wear My Invisalign Retainer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is all important to know because if you don\u2019t wear your retainer as instructed, the hard work you put into your Invisalign treatment will be completely reversed. Your teeth will become crooked once again. Mechanically, this means you\u2019ll always have to wear a retainer after Invisalign. But don\u2019t worry \u2013 it\u2019s not as cumbersome as it might sound!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are There Different Types of Retainers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many different types of retainers, but the two most common are removable retainers<\/strong> and permanent retainers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A removable retainer<\/strong> is actually a lot like Invisalign trays. They\u2019re low-profile oral devices made out of a clear plastic material. A key difference, though, is that you\u2019ll only have to wear your removable retainer at night while you sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A permanent retainer<\/strong> is even more subtle. Your dentist will use a special glue to place a thin wire behind multiple (though usually not all) of your teeth. Permanent retainers do feel strange at first, but not uncomfortable, and eventually you won\u2019t even notice it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do I Take Care of My Retainer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Permanent retainers cannot be taken out of your mouth. Your dentist will likely give you instructions on how to floss underneath the wire. Other than that, though, you won\u2019t have to do much else in order to take good care of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removable retainers require a bit more maintenance. Fortunately, it\u2019s not much more than what you would do for your Invisalign aligners. Rinse off your removable retainer after taking it out or putting it back in your mouth, keep in stored in a secure case when you\u2019re not wearing it, and clean it once per day with a toothbrush and hand soap. And don\u2019t forget to clean the case at least once a week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you straighten your teeth with Invisalign, having to wear a retainer for the foreseeable future probably seems like a drag at first. But now that you know the upkeep is minimal and wearing one won\u2019t change your day-to-day habits, hopefully you see your retainer as a help, not a hindrance!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Mu Salayta<\/a> is one of our skilled dentists here at Elwood Avenue Dental, and has completed advanced training in Invisalign treatment. If you\u2019re considering Invisalign or have more questions about what happens after treatment, Dr. Salayta would be happy to meet with you for a consultation or provide answers over the phone. Simply contact our office<\/a> at 918-299-2298.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It takes about 12 to 18 months on average to complete an Invisalign treatment. During that time, you\u2019ll wear your aligners for 22-hours every day, maintain good oral hygiene habits, and clean your trays on a regular basis. But what happens after? Similar to an orthodontic treatment using traditional braces, most patients do have to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nHow Long Will I Wear a Retainer After Invisalign? | Elwood Avenue Dental<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How long will you have to wear your retainer after Invisalign? How should you take care of it? Are there different types? 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