Invisalign & Retainers

Invisalign aligner guide

Welcome to your Invisalign Adventure! Together, we will work towards getting you a brighter, healthier smile.

• Rule #1: Wear your trays all day every day! 24 of the 24 hours.
  • Eat with them on.
  • Sleep with them on. 
  • Breathe with them on. 
• Eat with trays:
  • The only exception is when you are eating anything with turmeric unless you want neon yellow aligners. 
  • Coffee, tea, wine and other dark staining food and beverages should be rinsed out immediately.
  • After every meal, brush and floss your teeth and wash your trays with soap and water. 
  • Please inform us if this is an unbearable ask, and be aware that this can lead to a lengthier treatment.
• Inform the office if you are missing any attachments (tooth colored buttons).
• Use your provided Munchie to seat your tray every time you put it back on. 
• Change to the next aligner in order and on the date indicated on the next aligner pouch. 
• To recycle, bring your old aligners to your next appointment. Our office has partnered with Invisalign to recycle your plastic trays.

Retainer Guide

Congratulations! You've graduated from treatment. You've put in so much hard work and time, so let's keep those teeth in place.

• Wear your retainers FULL TIME for the first three (3) months after orthodontic treatment.
• Please remove to eat or drink anything but water.
• After three months, you can take 4 hours off weekly until you reach nightly wear (8 hours a day).
• Continue to wear your retainers nightly for life to prevent unwanted movements and relapse.
• Soap and water is recommended to clean retainers daily.
• Effervescent retainer/denture tablets are recommended weekly. 
• ​Store in a cool dry place between use.
• Bring your retainer to every dental appointment for its own professional cleaning and to check the fit. ​

Clear Plastic Retainers

• These are most recommended to prevent relapse. They are more restrictive, so compliance is crucial to ensure they continue to fit.
• Like your Invisalign trays, these warp and flex over time.
• On average these can last about one year. Many factors can cause this to vary.
• New retainers will need to be purchased after they've reached their lifespan.

Hawley -- Acrylic and Metal Wire

• Less restrictive and more flexible
• These appliances can be adjusted to an extent if changes to your teeth shape occur.
• These can last a lifetime! (Unless a pet eats it or you step on it--ouch!)
• Replacements will need to be purchased. Minor adjustments are complimentary.