Can You Use Retainers To Straighten Teeth?

When you think of braces, do you associate that process with the teen years? That's how they're shown in movies, but orthodontic treatment is beneficial for people of all ages. If you have crooked teeth, crowding, or an over-or under-bite, it’s never too late to fix it. Misaligned teeth and bite issues often require traditional braces, aligners, or retainers. This improves your smile, reduces tooth decay, oral infections, and jaw problems. Keep reading to find out if you can use retainers to straighten your teeth.

Retainers vs. Aligners

First, it’s important to understand the difference between retainers and aligners. Both are invisible, unlike traditional braces with wires and brackets. They’re also custom-made by orthodontists. Aligners straighten teeth by wearing a sequence of appliances that move your teeth. You’re told how long to wear the first one and then when to change to the next aligner. Each treatment plan is individually developed. Retainers serve to keep the teeth in place once they’ve been moved with braces or aligners. You’ll usually wear these at night to prevent your teeth from moving out of place. For the best outcome, you need to wear them for the rest of your life.

At-Home Dental Aligners

Today, you have the option of getting clear aligners at home to straighten your teeth. On-line dental professionals will work with you to create a treatment plan. Most people wear these aligners for between three and twelve months.

Retainer Uses

Many people wonder if they can just use retainers to straighten their teeth. The most direct answer is no. Retainers serve to keep teeth in place. Trying to use a retainer to move and straighten your teeth could cause harm. The reality is that if you try to put a retainer made with the final alignment in your mouth, it won’t fit. Your teeth and the retainer won’t line up so it can't slide on. This is why aligners or braces are first used to move the teeth into the correct place. Then it’s time for the retainer. Always wear a custom-made retainer. Wearing a random retainer can cause harm to your teeth and bite.

Retainers to Correct Shifted Teeth

While retainers can’t do the work of braces or aligners, they are helpful for minor adjustments. For example, if you’ve fallen out of the habit of wearing your retainer every night, your teeth may shift. In this case, try putting your retainer back in place. It will probably be tight at first. As long as you can get it in place, start wearing it again. You may want to wear it 24 hours a day for a while until your teeth return to the correct place. Then you can resume only nighttime wear. If you can’t fit the retainer back on your teeth, you need to speak to a dental professional. They may recommend wearing aligners or braces to get the teeth back where they need to be.

Steps to Straighten Your Teeth at Home

You may find the at-home teeth-straightening process easier than you thought. First, choose a company such as ALIGNERCO. They’ll ask you to take a free assessment to learn more about your dental concerns. Next, you’ll receive a dental impression kit in the mail. Follow the instructions to create your impression and then send it back to ALIGNERCO. Dental professionals will examine this imprint and diagnose the problems present. These experts will develop a treatment plan to correct all misalignments. The goal is to create an optimal bite to prevent tooth, gum, and jaw problems. The plan also works to straighten crooked teeth and provide an appealing smile. The dental professionals will make adjustments as needed during the treatment process. This allows them to guide the teeth into the correct position. This whole process takes place from home. It doesn’t require visits to an orthodontist. Once your teeth are properly aligned, you’ll receive your retainer to keep your teeth in place. This retainer is free and custom-made to fit your new smile. You don’t want to spend this time and effort only to have your teeth move right back to where they came from. ALIGNERCO gives you the option of buying extra retainers for the future. This is great because, after a while, the retainers may not seem clean enough even with brushing. They can also break or get lost.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

When shopping online, look for reputable credentials as well as pricing. ALIGNERCO offers affordable aligners and retainers. You’ll pay up to 60 percent less than you would for braces. Their SmileAdvantage program costs between $1285 and $1635. You can make a one-time payment for this plan. It includes the impression kit, the series of invisible aligners, and a set of retainers. They also give you a tooth whitening kit for no extra charge. The SmileFlex plan costs between $107 and $137 per month for 12 months. You won’t be charged any interest on this payment option. The SmileFlex Easy option lets you put down an initial payment of between $310 and $395. You’ll then pay 12 monthly installments of $100 to $123. They accept all major forms of payment.

Would You Like to Achieve Straight Teeth from Home?

Do you have trouble eating or talking because of misaligned teeth? Do you avoid smiling to hide crooked teeth? What if you could fix your teeth at home? ALIGNERCO works online with customers directly to provide clear aligners and retainers. After receiving your dental impressions, we develop an individualized plan. Then you’ll get your series of aligners. These aligners work to move your teeth according to the treatment plan. Once your teeth have reached their destination, you get a free custom-made retainer. Complete your free assessment today to get started.