A Retainer After Invisalign

I am on my final pair of aligners for my Invisalign treatment. I’ve just got a promotion that requires immediate relocation. It’s the job of my dreams so I don’t want to pass on it. Can I just finish these aligners and be done or will I need to find an Invisalign dentist right away for some post procedure treatment? I remember my dentist saying something about needing a retainer.

Paisley

Dear Paisley,

I don’t think you need to rush out and get an Invisalign dentist the day you move. While you will need a retainer to prevent your teeth from shifting back out of alignment, there is a way to use your final aligner as a retainer while you get settled. Then, when things calm down, you can see either an Invisalign dentist or an orthodontist to get a sturdy retainer.

Keep your final aligners on for at least a month, then you can start gradually backing off. This is the procedure I want you to follow for that. After that month or so, start wearing them every other day. If when you’ve been out of them for a day the aligners are a little harder to put it, in means your teeth have shifted and you need to go back to every day longer. If they’re fine, wear them every other day for a month or more.

From there you can try backing off a little more by doing it every three days, always being sure to check that there has been no shifting. Then go to once a week. By then, you will probably be settled and able to get things checked out by a professional. Your old Invisalign dentist is ethically bound to share all his treatment notes and diagnostics with whoever you see next, so make sure you get those transferred.

I hope this helps. Congratulations on the new job and I hope your move goes smoothly.
This blog is brought to you by Bee Cave Orthodontist Dr. Alberto Tostado.