What Should You Expect After Your Clear Aligners Treatment

Clear aligners are undoubtedly one of the most popular alternatives to traditional metallic braces due to their less invasive and discrete nature. Made from soft, hypoallergenic plastic, the clear aligner trays apply gentle and consistent pressure on the patient’s teeth to align them.

Clear aligner treatment such as Invisalign can be used to correct different types and degrees of malocclusions including overbite, underbite, crossbite, gapped and crowded teeth. If you are interested in opting for clear aligner treatment, your dentist will start by making a 3D digital scan of your oral cavity, precisely measuring your teeth and the degree of malocclusion during the primary consultation. Following this, you will be given an overview of the treatment plan, including a mock-up of the final result to help you understand what to expect. Once you decide to go ahead with the treatment, you will have to wear made-to-measure clear aligner trays throughout the treatment period, with a new set to be worn every 2 to 3 weeks to adjust your dental alignment.

Ideally, the treatment will be around 12 to 18 months. To stay on schedule and get the desired result, you need to keep wearing the clear aligners for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours every day during the treatment. Additionally, you will have to follow all the necessary instructions and precautions to keep your aligners clean and transparent and maintain your oral hygiene throughout the treatment.

While there are many articles on the internet discussing clear aligners and what to expect during the treatment, we seldom hear about what happens after the treatment ends. So in this blog, we will learn what to expect after the clear aligner treatment ends.

Clear aligners- The aftercare

Once your clear aligner treatment ends, it’s time for the maintenance routines. Similar to the post-treatment care recommended for traditional braces, you will be asked to wear a custom retainer for a while to ensure that your teeth are set in their new positions. If you don't wear your recommended retainer enough or avoid them altogether, it can lead to

• Incomplete remodeling of the tooth socket
• Incomplete remodeling of the retaining bone
• Teeth shifting into other positions
• Teeth getting misaligned again
• Loose teeth, pain, and sore gums

In short, not wearing your retainer and following all the recommended aftercare instructions after the clear aligner treatment will cause your time, money, and efforts spent on bettering your smile to go to waste.

Many people shy away from using retainers thinking they are uncomfortable, similar to traditional braces. Patients who undergo clear aligner treatment especially seem to think that they don’t require retainers and can continue wearing their final set of clear aligners. Not only is this a mistake, but it is certainly not enough to keep your teeth in their new alignment.

Thanks to the advancement in technology, today there are less invasive and more comfortable retainers available, well suited for the patient’s specific needs. Retainers are made of stronger materials and are made to measure using the same digital 3D scan technology used for designing your clear aligners. Once you start wearing retainers make sure to follow these rules listed below for their upkeep-

• Avoid eating food with your retainers on as it tends to get stuck on them. Remove the retainer during meals and wear them afterward.
• Don’t drink colored or hot beverages while wearing the retainer as it can damage them.
• Rinse the retainer before you put it in your mouth after the meals. Ensure that they are cleaned properly at least once a day.
• Continue following the dental care routines you adopted during the treatment. Brush and floss twice a day and visit your dentist every six months to ascertain your dental health.
• If you damage your retainer or feel recurring issues with its fit, visit your dentist at the earliest for corrective measures.
• You may have to wear the retainers for a long time. However, the duration of their use each day will gradually reduce. Many people wear their retainer only to bed once their teeth are set in the preferred alignment.

Final words

Like with any treatment and medical procedure, it is important to follow the aftercare instructions to get the full benefits of the clear aligner treatment. Talk to your specialist at Emirates Dental Clinic in Dubai to get a better idea about the treatment, desired results, and long-term after-care routines you need to follow to maintain your healthy and beautiful smile.