Teeth moved after braces? Orthodontic relapse and Invisalign

Orthodontic relapse is when teeth drift back after braces, usually because retainers stopped being worn. Many relapse cases are mild and suit Invisalign Go Express at £1,495, typically around 3 months, or Invisalign Go at £2,495. At Toothi in Edgware, retainers are included to help stop it happening again.

It’s one of the most common reasons adults come to us. You had braces as a teenager, the result was great, and years later a front tooth has twisted or the lower teeth have crowded again. Annoying, but usually very fixable.

Teeth aren’t set in concrete. The gum fibres that hold them have a memory and tend to pull teeth back towards where they started, and teeth keep moving slightly throughout life. Without a retainer, some drift is normal.

• ✓  Retainers stopped. By far the most common cause. A lot of people were told to wear them for a year or two, and then stopped.
• ✓  A broken fixed retainer. A bonded wire that has come loose on one tooth can let that tooth move without you noticing.
• ✓  Natural ageing. Lower front teeth in particular tend to crowd slowly with age, even in people who never had braces.
• ✓  Habits and gum changes. Tongue thrusting, clenching and gum recession can all play a part.

Usually, yes. Relapse tends to affect the front teeth, which is where the shorter Invisalign packages work well. Because the teeth have been straight before, the movements needed are often small.

The package depends on how far things have moved. A single twisted or slightly crowded front tooth often suits Go Express, while more widespread drift may need Go or Go Plus. If the relapse has affected your bite significantly, or the original problem was complex, we’ll refer you on to an orthodontist. Your free consultation and iTero 3D scan show what’s needed. You can also see examples of what aligners can achieve in our Invisalign before and after guide.

At Toothi every Invisalign package is a fixed price, and every one includes retainers for afterwards. If you just need new retainers to hold your teeth where they are now, we can make those on their own.

Prices are fixed and taken from our fees page. Every Invisalign package includes the iTero scan and ClinCheck, all reviews, refinement aligners if needed, removable and fixed retainers, an Airflow hygiene clean and Boutique whitening. Complex cases are referred on to an orthodontist.

If you still have an old removable retainer and it goes in with only gentle pressure, wearing it at night may hold things where they are. Don’t force a retainer that no longer fits. It can be uncomfortable and won’t move teeth properly. If a fixed wire has come loose, get it checked soon, because the tooth under it can move quickly.

The earlier relapse is caught, the smaller the correction usually is. Our replacement retainers page explains your options if you just need new ones.

Wear retainers for life. There isn’t another answer. After Invisalign at Toothi you get a fixed wire retainer behind the front teeth and removable retainers to wear at night. Together they’re the best protection against your teeth moving again, and both are included in your package. Wear the removable ones as advised, and get the fixed wire checked at your routine visits. Our guide to Invisalign retainers explains the options in more detail.

• → Invisalign in Edgware: our three fixed prices
• → Can Invisalign fix crowded teeth?
• → How long does Invisalign take?
• → Is Invisalign worth it?