Retainers are used after the patient has done their Invisalign or teeth straightening treatment. If you have undergone teeth straightening treatment, you need to wear retainers. Retainers are made up of clear plastic and are almost invisible, just like the Invisalign aligners. The main job of a retainer is to hold your teeth into place to protect them from moving or shifting to their original position. Even after you are done with teeth straightening treatment, your teeth tend to move back to their original position. Your teeth move throughout life, but retainers help them stay intact and provide a more prominent grip and stability.
As retainers are fitted at the end of the treatment, they help hold teeth to their new position. Retainers can not assist in closing any type of gaps between the teeth. Apart from providing their support, they do not offer any other dental assistance. Retainers are designed to help retain the teeth in their new position. In addition, retainers only have the strength to hold the teeth where they are finally positioned after the Invisalign treatment. They do not function actively to move the teeth into an aligned position or to close any gaps between them. Retrainers are made using the impression of your teeth which fits on your teeth and is removable and easy to handle.
Retainers do not close gaps, but they have various other advantages like providing support to the teeth, keeping them intact in their new position, does not feel bulky, helping prevent the clenching of teeth and jaw, and preventing sore gums, making it easy to maintain good oral hygiene, etc. The main reason retainers can not be used to close gaps is that they are not made with the optimum material requested to put minimum pressure on the teeth that will shift them back and forth.
Lastly, if you face any problem with your Invisalign treatment, you must consult your dentist for proper treatment.