Should I Use a Retainer for Teeth Straightening? Expert Answers Compared

Are your crooked teeth starting to affect your self-confidence? Understandably, your crooked smile could be the cause of your low self-esteem. Do you want to straighten your teeth into the smile you deserve? It's possible with aligners and retainers.

Should I use a retainer for teeth straightening? That's a common question asked by people looking to fix their smiles. This post unpacks everything you need to know about using aligners and retainers to straighten your teeth.

What are Retainers? Can I Use them to Straighten My Teeth?

Retainers are plastic devices designed by your orthodontist. The retainer matches the shape of your teeth, ensuring they stay in place. If you want to straighten your teeth, you need an aligner system.

Aligner systems are a series of clear, plastic aligners designed to pull your teeth into a new position. Depending on the system you go for, you could receive anywhere from seven to 26-sets of aligners in your treatment.

You wear each of the aligners for 22-hours a day, fixing your teeth in anywhere for four to 18-months. After you finish with your treatment and your teeth are straight, you'll use a retainer. The retainer prevents your teeth from shifting back to the old position.

What are Aligner Systems for Teeth Straightening?

Managed Orthodontics

If you decide to go with a managed orthodontic system, you only have the option of Invisalign to correct your smile. Your orthodontist exclusively works with Invisalign for your treatment. The ADA and FDA recognize Invisalign as the only suitable aligner treatment for use in orthodontic practices.

DIY Orthodontics

DIY aligners come from teledentistry companies that let you manage the process. While these aligner brands don't have any recognition with the ADA or FDA, they provide the same results as Invisalign. However, you never have to set foot in a dentist's office to use the system. All interactions between you and the company occur through a remote teledentistry platform.

At-Home Aligner Treatments Vs Invisalign

With Invisalign, you get a fully managed orthodontic experience. If you're a person that needs a doctor watching over you to calm your nerves, it's the best choice. With Invisalign, your orthodontist monitors every aspect of your treatment.

At-home aligners provide the same results as Invisalign, but you don't get the same follow-up support as you do at an orthodontic practice. However, according to user reviews, at-home systems work every bit as well as Invisalign.

How Much Does an Aligner System Cost?

If you're looking at an aligner system to straighten your teeth, you have the option of going with an orthodontic solution like Invisalign or an at-home aligner brand. At-home brands offer you some significant savings over traditional aligners.

Invisalign

Invisalign requires assessment, installation, and maintenance of your aligner system in your orthodontist's office. As a result, you'll end up paying a lot of money in consultation fees. The average cost of an Invisalign treatment varies between $3,500 to $8,000, depending on the system you select.

You'll visit your doctor for checkups every two weeks to 60-days during your treatment period. The average time to straighten your smile with Invisalign is anywhere from 4-months to 18-months. It depends on the extent of your dental problem.

If you're fine with playing twice the cost of Byte for your aligner treatment, Invisalign is the best choice. With Invisalign, you get fitment and checkups in the orthodontist's chair.

Your doctor monitors the process, telling you when it's time to move onto the next aligner.

However, Byte offers you the same experience, except it's through your smart device or laptop, instead of in your doctor's office.

At-Home Aligner Brands

In contrast to Invisalign, at-home aligners offer you an affordable treatment. At-home aligner brands offer you consultation through a remote teledentistry platform. You'll follow a custom treatment plan, with dentists or orthodontists following up with you every 30 to 90-days.

At-home aligners vary in the support they provide customers. Systems like Candid offer you as close to an orthodontic experience as you can get with at-home aligners. Other brands like Alignerco are more affordable. However, you get no aftercare during your treatment, only the treatment plan designed for you by an orthodontist.

Pros and Cons of Using At-Home Teeth Aligners

Pros

You get an affordable treatment for fixing your teeth.
Aligner companies work with insurers to drop your treatment costs.
Most brands offer in-house financing with no credit check.
You get the same results as traditional orthodontics like Invisalign and braces.
Aligners are much less expensive than braces and Invisalign.
Most brands include free teeth whitening and retainers.
You have options for daytime or nighttime aligners.

Cons

You don't get the same level of orthodontic follow-up as you do at your doctor.
Some brands offer different treatment options or accessories.
Prices vary depending on the provider.

Should I Use a Retainer for Teeth Straightening? – The Verdict

Retainers are not ideal for aligning your teeth. To fix your smile, you'll need to rely on an aligner treatment. You have options for orthodontic and DIY aligners designed to restore your smile.

After you finish your treatment, your doctor or remote teledentistry recommends you wear retainers to hold your new smile in place. Most patients have to wear the retainers for up to 2-years after finishing their treatment.

Should I Use a Retainer for Teeth Straightening? FAQ

Are retainers and aligners the same thing?

Aligners and retainers are different dental tools designed to straighten your smile. During the correction phase of your treatment, you use the aligners to align your teeth. After you finish with the treatment, the retainer retains your smile in place. Without the retainers, your teeth will slowly shift back to their old position.

Does my insurance contribute to my aligners and retainers?

Yes, most health insurers will contribute to your treatment, especially if it’s for your child. Adults might have more issues with their insurance categorizing retainers and aligners as “cosmetic” dental work. To determine if you qualify for treatment, reach out to your insurer and ask if you have cover for orthodontic procedures under the code D8090.

Why do orthodontists recommend Invisalign?

When Invisalign launched, the company spent $31-million on a marketing campaign to reach end-users and orthodontists. By partnering with orthodontists, the company received the benefit of cornering the market. Today, Invisalign is the only aligner company exclusively recommended by orthodontists. However, user reviews show that at-home aligners provide the same results as Invisalign.

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