Everyone wants straight teeth, but many people are put off by the idea of having to wear braces. Fortunately, you can straighten your teeth without braces by using our invisible aligners.
These invisible aligners aren’t to be confused with retainers, which have a different purpose and can’t be used for teeth straightening. In this guide, we’ll help you to explain the difference between retainers and aligners.
Retainers Vs Aligners: What’s the difference?
Retainers and aligners are both custom-built by an orthodontist and are both invisible (unlike traditional braces), however, they are not the same thing.
Retainers are typically worn after having your teeth realigned by braces or aligners. They are usually worn at night and help your teeth to stay in the right position. After all the hard work of having your teeth realigned by braces, you don’t want them to gradually start moving out of line again. This is what a retainer does – it retains the teeth in place.
Aligners are more like braces in that they physically realign your teeth into shape. They are worn for a temporary period and are designed via treatment plan set up by a qualified orthodontist. The difference between aligners and braces is that aligners are invisible.
Can I use a Retainer to straighten my teeth?
Retainers are used after the teeth straightening process to keep the teeth in archived position but you cannot use them to straighten your teeth.
If you were to use a retainer to try and realign your teeth, you would most likely cause more harm than good. In fact, it is unlikely you would be able to find a retainer to fit your mouth anyway, given that they’re not designed to fit misaligned teeth.
By scheduling an appointment with an orthodontist, you can first get aligners fitted that will move your teeth into shape over a period of several months or years. After this process, an orthodontist will then be able to get a retainer custom-made for you to keep your teeth in place.
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Why choose us for aligners and retainers?
At ALIGNERCO, we are able to set up a teeth straightening plan that you can carry out from home without visiting an in-house/ external orthodontist.
We start by sending out an impression kit that you then send back to us with your dental impressions. Our specialised team of dental experts then use these impressions to build you custom-made aligners to your needs. You can pay for this upfront or in affordable monthly instalments.
At the end of the treatment, we’ll then provide you with a free custom-made Retainer. We also offer the option to buy additional Retainers if you feel you may need them, in future.
Our professional service ensures that you receive Aligners and a Retainer that is custom-fitted to your teeth.
You can find out more about by getting started with a free assessment
