When you finished with Invisalign, you might’ve adored the results you got. After months of following a diligent routine, you’re finally enjoying the straighter smile you wanted. While it was looking great, have your teeth slowly started to shift back over time? This can leave you worried about your grin, so you may think wearing your retainer will put everything back in place. However, this may not be the case. Here’s what you need to know about this situation.
Why Are My Teeth Moving Out of Place?
You will need a retainer after any treatment designed to correct misalignment. It helps preserve your results as it prevents shifting and orthodontic relapse. This is when your teeth move back to where they were before, but it can happen for a wide range of reasons.
Aging, habits like teeth grinding or clenching, and gum disease are some factors that can cause movement. A simple way you can tell if your smile is changing is by putting on your oral appliance. If it’s noticeably tighter, then it’s a sign that something is going on!
So, Can I Re-Straighten My Teeth with My Old Retainers?
While retainers look like the aligners you had before, you may think they function exactly the same. This might be a good theory in concept, but wearing them can actually be harmful if the fit is drastically different.
The oral appliance might be tight and uncomfortable, causing damage to itself or your teeth. Not only that, but you also risk throwing off your bite. If it’s cracked, bent, or warped at all, then it can cause trouble, such as affecting your alignment. When this becomes impacted, you can end up with jaw pain in some cases.
What Should I Do If My Retainers Don’t Fit?
A shifting smile can leave you self-conscious, but you should head to your dentist about it first, especially if your retainer doesn’t fit. Avoid wearing it for now, and your provider can let you know about the next steps. By assessing your grin, they will come up with a safe and effective way to get you back to a straighter set of teeth. You might simply get a new oral appliance, while others may need another, shorter round of Invisalign.
In the end, your retainer may not be able to realign your smile after it moves. Instead, talk to your provider and see what you can do to get back to confidently showing it off.
About the Practice
At Gale Ranch Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of San Ramon, you benefit from a team of skilled dentists who look after you and your oral health. We are happy to help the local community get the straighter teeth they love with reliable options like Invisalign. By being with you throughout your journey with your trays, you can trust that you know how to get to your results without delay and keep them for a lifetime. If your grin has started shifting after your treatment, schedule an appointment or call our office at (925) 648-8580.