Invisalign is a braces treatment like no other, offering full flexibility, a discreet treatment option, and predictable results. But despite these positives, our patients do wonder about life after Invisalign. Can teeth misalign? Can bite problems develop? And what about extractions? Our dentists cover some of these common themes in today’s blog post. 

Invisalign explained

First of all, we’ll just outline what the treatment is, and how it works – especially if you haven’t heard of it before. Put simply, they’re clear, plastic braces (also called ‘aligners’) which fit snugly over your teeth. They can be removed as often as you like (provided you wear them for 20-22 hours per day) and are easy to store and clean. Every couple of weeks, you switch to the next set of aligners – it’s that easy. 

After treatment

In some cases, there’s a refinement period after you’ve worn all your Invisalign aligners. This helps iron out any final adjustments that your smile might need. Then, you’ll be directed to wear retainers. Again, a dentist’s advice may vary between patients, but in lots of instances, retainers must be worn throughout the day, before gradually reducing wear to the evening/overnight. 

Problems with your smile

If a patient doesn’t wear their retainer as directed, problems can occur. Teeth may begin to shift, and even if this shift is minor, or only affects certain teeth, it can mean your retainers won’t fit properly. 

Bite concerns

Invisalign is well-known for correcting bite problems; overbite (front teeth sticking out), underbite (bottom teeth sticking out) and open bite (teeth don’t close) can all be treated. But, stopping wearing your retainers after treatment can make the teeth shift back, causing your ‘old’ bite to gradually re-form. Of course, even if you didn’t have bite problems before, it’s entirely possible for them to occur in the future. This can be linked to retainer wear, or a problem like adult tooth loss.

Extractions and straight smiles

Extractions can also cause the teeth to move positions, as with enough space, they may start to spread out. This can undo all your hard work wearing your Invisalign aligners. If an extraction is needed, your dentist will do this before treatment and plan your aligners around it. 

Book with our Invisalign team

We’d love to help create a happy, healthy, straight smile that you can wear for life. If you’d like to find out more about our dentists, our procedures, or Invisalign aligners, then get in touch with our Pontefract team today or book online.