Everyone who is undergoing orthodontic treatment looks forward to the day where their treatment ends, and they can show off their brand-new smile. Not only does orthodontic treatment help your teeth look better, but it can alleviate grinding, excessive wear, uncomfortable bites, jaw pain, morning breath, and more.
Those undergoing Invisalign treatment have a slightly different end-treatment experience. Due to the discreet nature of Invisalign, patients get to start enjoying many of the benefits while their treatment is still happening. The people around you might not notice your alignment trays, but they will notice your improved smile as early as halfway through your treatment.
Still, there is a notable shift once your treatment ends and you enter life after Invisalign. After all, Invisalign requires that you wear your aligner trays 20-22 hours a day. While they’re in, you can only drink water. You’ll need to take them out for every meal, and you’ll want to rinse them and your mouth thoroughly before putting them back into place.
Though this is surprisingly easy to adjust to, you’ll feel a noticeable amount of freedom once your treatment ends. The question is, when exactly does your treatment end?
The End of Your Invisalign Treatment
When you’re first getting set up for Invisalign treatment, your orthodontist will map out a schedule that will take you from your current state to proper alignment. This will provide an estimate of when you’ll switch trays and when your treatment will end.
Of course, this can change slightly depending on how you react to the treatment. Ultimately, your orthodontist will determine when your treatment has been completed and your teeth are in their proper place.
Congrats, you’ve reached the end of your treatment! No more handling trays and aligner case on hand anytime you go out. Enjoy the newfound freedom and beautifully aligned teeth. Unlike braces, there’s no real “removal” process for Invisalign.
There is, however, one final step…
The Most Important Part of Post-Invisalign Treatment
Once you’re done with your Invisalign treatment, you’ll be fitted with a retainer. Your teeth aren’t used to being in this properly aligned position. Left alone, they would slowly but surely shift back to how they were before your treatment, completely wasting the time and money you put into the treatment.
A retainer helps hold them in place.
Don’t worry, removable retainers are discreet, comfortable, and they don’t have to be worn all the time. At least, eventually. The specifics of how often people have to wear their retainer can vary from person to person. You’ll likely be asked to wear your retainer as much as possible during the first 3-6 months after Invisalign treatment.
After that, simply putting it in when you go to bed should suffice. Once a year has post, most people are fine just wearing their retainer 3-5 times a week. In some cases, people might have a permanent retainer placed discreetly behind their teeth. Don’t worry, no one will even know it’s there.
Really, the most important thing to know about life after Invisalign is that you’re guaranteed to love your new smile. The only way to find out is to begin your Invisalign treatment. For Invisalign in Beavercreek, Ohio and the surrounding communities, contact Dhingra Orthodontics today!
