Teeth Shifting Right After Tray Removal

[phasesofbeauty]

I had my Invisalign out for about an hour this morning. I swear my upper right tooth jutted out in just an hour. Is that possible or am I crazy? I started this new tray on Tuesday and today is Saturday.

I am quite nervous about shifting. I don't want to go through all of this and my teeth shift right back!

[arciedee]

My teeth definitely shift after I've had my trays out, though I really only notice it for the first few days after I switch trays. Over the two weeks it seems like my teeth get more used to their new position and shift less, though I will still occasionally feel tightness when I pop my trays back in, particularly if I've left them out for longer than I should have.

But yes, the teeth will want to revert back to their former position, which is why, no matter what avenue you go down to fix your teeth (traditional braces or Invisalign) you end up having to wear retainers full-time for at least a while after you're "done" and part-time for the rest of your life. The teeth will stabilize, but they will always want to shift around.

[Advocate]

Yeah, that is annoying. I still have to wear my retainer every night or my teeth will slowly start to shift, even though I finished treatment two years ago. Retainers are apparently a life-long thing.

[DrJasonKTam]

Not crazy at all. The same happens with fixed braces. If a bracket comes off, some teeth may shift very rapidly. The idea is that some teeth will require to be held in place more than others.

Advocate: Correct. Retention is lifelong!

[phasesofbeauty]

My teeth seem to have settled down now. I have moved on from active treatment to retention. When I take my retainers out, it takes longer and longer for the teeth to even start shifting. I had my attachments and stuff taken off on Jan 6th. In about a week, I go back for a checkup. I am quite excited.