Upon completion of any active orthodontic treatment, whether braces or Invisalign, it is important to understand that your treatment does not end there.
You have now moved on to the retention phase of treatment. Research shows that teeth take about 6-8 months after removal of braces to stabilize in the corrected position, as the supporting tissues around the teeth require this time to reorganize itself in the new teeth position.
I generally recommend my patients to wear their retainers full time during the first 6 months after orthodontic treatment, followed by nighttime wear of their retainers thereafter.
As our mouth is a dynamic environment, the forces from oral activities such as eating, swallowing, talking can cause forced to be applied to the teeth and hence resulting in changes in teeth position over time. For as long as you want your teeth to stay straight, you will need to wear a well-fitted set of retainers.
If you have recently completed your Invisalign treatment and realized your teeth have shifted out of position, I would strongly recommend you to consult your original orthodontist/dentist as soon as possible. Depending on your treatment package, your orthodontist/dentist may be able to make additional Invisalign trays for you for a smaller fee to correct your teeth alignment.
Sometimes, other forms of treatment such as a flexible spring retainer or a short period of sectional braces may also help to correct the problem. Discuss with your orthodontist/dentist to understand your options.
