In this article, you will learn the difference between Invisalign and retainers because everyone wants a perfect, pearly-white smile. Apart from aesthetics, having straight teeth can be important for dental health. Even better, one can prevent jaw movement and pain or uneven wear and tear to your teeth. Cosmetic dentistry is growing at a great pace. Now you have many options to help achieve the perfect look with retainer and Invisalign. So, if you are looking for a Hollywood-like smile, consider contacting a dentist to learn the best treatment. But what is the difference between Invisalign vs Retainers?
Retainers Vs Invisalign: What’s The Difference?
It’s very important to know the difference between aligners and retainers so that you can understand both are different orthodontic treatments. Each one can play a severe separate role in making your smile perfect. So in this article, you will learn the difference between Invisalign and Retainer.
Aligners Straighten Your Teeth
The objective of the aligner is to straighten your teeth in a good position. The mechanism of aligners is very similar to traditional braces, which means when you apply gentle pressure on the teeth with the help of brackets and wire. The difference is only aligners use molds rather than wire and brackets to achieve their final objective.
Sometimes, a dentist will apply clear attachments that exert more pressure to shift your teeth hard and rotate your teeth. Either way, your aligner will work, and your dentist needs the same adjustments. You’ll receive a new mold every two weeks after the gradual shift of your teeth into aimed position.
Traditional braces restrict while you eat and drink. Also, you should maintain good dental practices to make your look clean. If you wear braces, you should limit some food like chewing gums, popcorn, and candies, or else you are likely to break your dental appliance and make your treatment longer than expected. Furthermore, you will experience hurdles while brushing and flossing your teeth that make teeth more prone to plaque and tartar buildup. In contrast, aligners can be removed while you are eating and drinking or bruising and flossing your teeth. If you still don’t know how they are different Retainers vs Invisalign and inter-connected, continue reading this article.
Retainers Keep Your Teeth in One Place
After the aligners or braces shift your teeth into a place, keep your teeth in the final place permanently. That’s important because, after the procedure, your teeth may return to their original place, called “elastic memory.” Your teeth can return to the original position from your braces or aligner treatment. To prevent this, your dentist advises wearing a clean Invisalign retainer for several years afterward.
Aligners Are Temporary, and Retainers Are Forever
The whole orthodontic procedure happens in two parts “retainers after Invisalign.” If you wear an aligner, you’re expected to wear it for at least 22 hours a day, which will give you enough time for bridge eating and drinking. Once your teeth shift to desired positions, your dentist will recommend retainers for atleast six months; some patients wear them day and night. But most wear them at night to ensure you’ll have straight teeth permanently.
Retainers Vs Invisalign: Material And Design
Invisalign aligners are customized trays made of a special plastic called “polyurethane resins.” For more information, they are resins blended with methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 1.6 hexanediols.
Retainers Vs Invisalign: Cost
Also, you can see the difference between Retainers and Invisalign based on cost. The Invisalign retainers cost anywhere between $3000 to $8000. But according to a reliable source, the price for Invisalign may land between $3000 to $5000.
After the treatment, you’ll receive a custom retainer from a dentist to keep your teeth straight. The retainer cost may be between $600 and $1200 for some sets, which should last for a long time.
How Long To Wear Retainers After Invisalign?
To maintain straight teeth, you should wear a retainer for around 22 hours a day for several months. Also, you must wear a retainer nearly full-time for at least six months. So, if you are looking to straighten your teeth, consider contacting a dentist to learn more about the pros and cons of the treatment.
What Do Invisalign Retainers Look Like?
Invisalign retainers are clean and invisible and very similar to the invisible aligners you wore during the treatment. Most people who wear Invisalign can also wear Invisalign retainers to maintain their treatment results.
How To Clean Invisalign Retainers?
You should brush and floss your teeth at least two times a day along with you can clean your aligners. To minimize bacteria or plaque buildup, the best way to clean Invisalign retainers is by rinsing them under lukewarm water. You should avoid hot water because it can wrap the plastic.
Conclusion
It would be best if you did not compromise while choosing dental appliances to make your teeth straight. Some treatment straightens your teeth without being noticed by anyone. Consider contacting a dentist for an aesthetic look during and after the treatment. So, say goodbye to ugly metal braces.
