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The following article has been medically reviewed for factual accuracy and current orthodontic practices by Dr. Febin Mary George, DDS.
Retainers, aligners, Invisalign, and braces. Are they all the same thing? Can retainers straighten teeth? Do braces keep teeth in place? Are aligners and braces the same thing? The orthodontic field can be confusing and when you are thinking of having your teeth straightened or if you’ve already had your teeth straightened you may want some answers on which devices can do what.
Aligners are clear devices that your dentist will craft to go over your teeth and they will gradually shift your teeth into the perfect position. You will need different sets of aligners depending on your length of treatment. The more work done, the more aligners you’ll have in the process. Aligners are the proper term for the clear plastic devices that go over your teeth to straighten teeth.
Invisalign is a brand of aligners. As a company, Invisalign has become synonymous with aligners, much like Google has become a term for “searching” for something on the internet. You “Google” it. Invisalign is a brand of aligners that will straighten your teeth and they are the most popular brand, although others exist like Smile Direct. Aligners, Invisalign, and Smile Direct all straighten teeth, along with braces. Can retainers straighten teeth?
Retainers come after the work of aligners and are a completely different oral device. These are used to prevent teeth from shifting after your smile has been straightened into the perfect position. Retainers can straighten your teeth but not in the way you are hoping.
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You should wear a retainer every night to prevent your teeth from shifting. It’s the only way to keep your teeth from shifting back into their natural position because of their elastic memory. If you take a month off of wearing your retainer or if you lose it, you may notice that your retainer has become very tight and uncomfortable. This is a sign that your teeth have begun to shift.
Can a retainer straighten teeth? In this instance, yes, but barely. If you wear your retainer, and it’s uncomfortable but not painful, your retainer can shift your teeth very slightly back into position. At any time if your retainer begins to hurt, remove it immediately and consult your dentist about having your teeth straightened. This means that your teeth have shifted too far and are past the point of having your retainer shift them back. If you continue to use the retainer even if it hurts, it may end up permanently damaging your teeth, resulting in nerve damage and killing a tooth that needs to be replaced. This is an extremely expensive procedure.
When your retainer doesn’t fit anymore, it’s best to call your dentist to have them come up with a plan about shifting your teeth back. You may only need a month of aligners which is much more affordable than having a tooth replaced. In the meantime, we recommend getting a new retainer to keep your teeth shifting any further. With SportingSmiles, you can receive a retainer in as a little as 6-7 business days with our emergency retainer kit.
If you aren’t in a rush, SportingSmiles retainers are the exact ones you’d receive from your dentist but at half the cost. Purchase a backup retainer or a new one to keep your teeth from shifting any further. It can be the difference from having to do six months of aligner treatments to one month of aligner treatments. Can retainers straighten teeth? Yes, but only minimal movements. Consult your dentist if you are considering major teeth straightening.
