Tale as old as time, you know how the story goes. You spent a lot of time in braces or aligners, but as soon as you finished treatment, you fell off the wagon when it came to wearing your retainers. Sure, you may have been good about it for a little while, but eventually, you started slipping up. While for some people they can get away with not wearing retainers, that’s not the case for most. No matter what the cause was, shifted teeth can be a pain but it’s not something that you have to live with forever!
WHY/HOW DO TEETH SHIFT?
So what makes teeth shift in the first place? That’s a loaded question because there are so many different causes and some of them could be completely out of your control. For example, when your wisdom teeth start coming in, they can begin crowding your teeth and in turn, shifting them because they are trying to accommodate. While this is rare, it can happen.
Aging is another cause for teeth to shift.
Commonly, we will see crowding starting to happen in the lower teeth. This is because as people age and hormones change, the jaw bone loses density and shrinks over time. Your teeth will do this too, but not quite as fast as the jaw does, leaving you with something to be desired. While we can’t help you out with the whole aging thing (but Plump Room right next door might be able to!) we can help you maintain a youthful smile.
You may be surprised to learn that your teeth have a “memory”! Teeth remember where they were before treatment and they want to return “home” to where they once were. For some folks, it can take a bit before they start to shift but for others, the shifting may start just days after getting their braces off if they’re not wearing their retainer as directed. Not good! You should always do your best to follow the instructions of your dentist after getting treatment, even if it can be hard to get used to but we understand when mistakes happen.
INVEST
Let’s face it, orthodontic treatment can be pricy and the idea of wearing traditional braces again isn’t exactly at the top of everyone’s to-do list. The good news is that if you slipped up on wearing your retainer, you don’t have to live with the shifted teeth forever and there are better options now. Surely you’ve heard of Invisalign before, it’s been around for over 22 years!
There have been many dupes and knock-offs that may come with a cheaper price tag, they can be dangerous. When you opt for orthodontic treatment without a visit to the dentist, you can end up in a lot more trouble than it’s worth. That’s why Chicago dentist Dr. Brittany Dickinson recommends Invisalign! She is here to oversee that your teeth are doing what they’re supposed to and there aren’t any complications along the way. Should you have any questions or concerns, the Sugar Squad is happy to answer them, which beats waiting on hold for a customer service rep!
Dr. Brittany Dickinson also offers Propel, which when used in tandem with Invisalign, can cut down your time in aligners. Think of Propel as a procedure that kickstarts your treatment by creating a little wiggle room to get your teeth moving. Pretty cool, right?
VIVERA RETAINERS
After you complete your treatment, we will give you retainers to keep all the hard work the Invisalign did, in place. These aren’t just any old retainers though, so you can ease your mind about being in uncomfortable metal brackets for the rest of your life. Instead, we will give you Vivera retainers to keep everything in order.
Vivera retainers were developed by the same doctors that created Invisalign so they know exactly what it takes to build a long-lasting and effective retainer. They are very similar to the aligners that you will have been wearing for months but are built with a thicker material to better hold and maintain that stunning smile.
CONTACT
If you’re feeling that it’s time to take control of your smile again, Sugar Fix Dental Loft in Lakeview is here for you. Call today and schedule your consultation with Dr. Brittany Dickinson to discuss the best option to get your smile back in line so you can feel like your best self.
Remember, just because you didn’t do well at wearing your retainers the first time around doesn’t mean that you’re going to follow the same path again. We’re here to support you through your Invisalign journey and long afterward, too. See you soon!