After Invisalign: Your Complete Guide to Orthodontic Retention

Invisalign® treatment is the fast track to a straight smile, but it’s important to protect your results once treatment ends. 

At Pioneer Dental Group in Norwalk, California, experienced cosmetic and general dentist Behzad Binafard, DDS, is known for his orthodontic expertise and gentle, patient-focused manner.

Dr. Binafard and our team don't just help you get results; we help you keep them after Invisalign. This process, called orthodontic retention, is easier than you may think, and we're here to guide you through it. Read on to understand orthodontic retention and how it works.

Understanding orthodontic retention

Orthodontic retention is the final, essential phase of teeth straightening. It includes long-term strategies like wearing retainers to keep your smile straight. This phase is critical to maintaining all the hard work you've done to get here.

Why orthodontic retention is necessary

Orthodontic retention is necessary for several reasons.

Lack of pressure

Invisalign applies gentle, steady pressure to shift your teeth into better alignment. Once that pressure stops, your teeth naturally want to return to their original position.

Bone remodeling

When your teeth move, your surrounding bone breaks down and rebuilds in new positions. This process, called bone remodeling, isn't instant and can take several months to stabilize fully.

Ligament memory

Elastic fibers (ligaments) hold your teeth in place. These fibers can stretch during orthodontic treatment and often try to pull your teeth back to their original positions.

After treatment ends, wearing retainers can put continued gentle pressure on your teeth and help finalize your results.

Retainers: The key to orthodontic retention

Retainer wear is the foundation of orthodontic retention. But don't worry: We're not talking about uncomfortable metal devices. Dr. Binafard and our team often recommend Vivera™ retainers from the makers of Invisalign.

Vivera retainers are made just for your teeth. Their unique SmartTrack material offers flexibility and comfort, and more importantly, they’re 30% stronger than other clear retainers.

That strength helps maintain the position of your teeth more effectively and protects against gradual shifting.

Retainer wear schedule

Your retainer wear schedule depends on your specific case, but there are some general guidelines. Dr. Binafard and our team generally advise our patients to wear their retainers full-time (about 20–22 hours a day) for the first 3-6 months after finishing Invisalign.

After that, we might recommend switching to nighttime wear only. In the long term, many patients continue to wear their retainers while sleeping to keep their teeth stable.

Everyone’s smile is different, and so is their retention plan. We provide detailed instructions based on your needs, including how often to wear and clean your retainers.

If your retainer ever feels tight or uncomfortable, it may be a sign your teeth are beginning to shift, so contact us right away.

Retainer care tips

Some common retainer care tips our team recommends are:

• Storing your retainers only in their case
• Cleaning your retainers daily
• Not rinsing your aligners under hot water (it can cause warping)
• Keeping your retainer case away from kids and pets

We also recommend bringing your retainers to your dental checkups so we can examine them and make any necessary adjustments.

Whether you’re wrapping up treatment or planning ahead, our team at Pioneer Dental Group is here to make sure your smile stays on track. Call us today at 562-684-6179 or schedule an appointment online anytime.