When you finish up with your Spark clear aligner treatment, you may be excited to finally get to the results you worked so hard to get. You invested time and money to get the healthier bite you deserve. However, before you left your final appointment, your orthodontist might’ve given you a retainer. While you may not be excited to hear you’ll need to wear this appliance now, here’s why it’s so important and how long you’ll need it for.
What’s the Purpose of a Retainer?
While you undergo an orthodontic service, your jawbone becomes spongy to allow your teeth to move. However, once you finish with your clear aligners, the bone doesn’t harden and stabilize right away. Your smile may shift back to its original state, so a retainer helps prevent this from happening and keeps it looking great for longer.
How Long Should I Expect to Wear My Retainer For?
With that being said, you may wonder how long you’ll need to wear this oral appliance for. The answer to this question just depends on how long you want to keep your results for. That means if you want to enjoy it for a lifetime, then you’ll need your retainer for just as long. However, this doesn’t mean that you will need to have it in as much as you did your Spark clear aligners.
As your jawbone stabilizes, you will be able to wean off this appliance. On average, you will need to wear it for 22 hours every day during the first two to four months. This will get your jaw and gums used to the new alignment, then you’ll likely be able to switch to keeping it in only at night. However, your exact timeline may be different, so you can talk to your dentist about what you can expect.
Tips for Caring for Your Retainer
Since you’ll need to wear your retainer to keep your smile straight, it’s important to take good care of it. Thankfully, it’s not much different from your clear aligners, so you may already have these habits built into your routine! Here are a couple of tips to follow:
- Don’t eat or drink with your retainers, the only exception being water.
- Keep them in their case when you are not wearing them, so you always know where they are.
- Brush them twice every day with a spare soft-bristle toothbrush and clear, gentle soap to clean off bacteria.
Although you’ll need a retainer after your Spark clear aligners, they are an important part of keeping your smile straight. Keep up with the tips above, and you can enjoy your healthier bite for years to come.
About the Author
Dr. Nicholas Palmer earned his dental degree from West Virginia University. He then completed his orthodontic residency at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry. Dr. Palmer is now a board-certified orthodontist who’s happy to help the local communities correct their misalignment with reliable choices like Spark clear aligners. If you have questions about needing a retainer, schedule an appointment or call his office at Bethel Park or McMurray.