Why don't more orthodontists offer retainers over invisalign or braces? are there any negative effects of retainers?

Not used to align: Retainers are oral appliances worn at the end of active orthodontic treatment to prevent teeth from relapsing or going back to their original position. Retainers are not active, which means that retainers do not generate forces to move teeth into better alignment. If the retainer is bonded to the teeth, patients will usu. Need to use floss threaders, making flossing a little more difficult.

May not work: Retainers for small tooth movements of 1 or 2 teeth are possible, but the ability to rotate or control movements precisely are best done with invisalign or conventional braces. Retainers are best for maintaining tooth positon.

Definition of retain: A retainer is for maintaining positions of teeth. Retain= to keep in place. Retainers are infrequently used for very limited for very minor tooth movements.

Retainer retain: Retainers do not move teeth, they retain already straight teeth. Its about using the right tool for the right job.

Clarification: True "retainers" are meant to maintain the position of teeth following the completion of any type of orthodontic movement. Without them, teeth tend to relapse into their former position. The term "retainer" is sometimes used loosely and a retainer type appliance can be used for minor tooth movement. Conventional braces (and invisalign) afford the most precise and comprehensive corrections.

Different purpose: Retainers are not meant to move teeth. Braces and invisalign do. Invisalign, indeed, are like retainers that are designed to move teeth rather than just retain them.

They have limits: Retainers are primarily used to retain orthodontic results following active orthodontic treatment with apliances. Although retainers can be used in limited situations to move teeth, retainers are limited to tipping movements only, and cannot correct roots, which is important for tooth stability.

Health issue: Retainers retain, they hold teeth where they are, they don't correct a malocclusion, but they help stabilize the post-treatment result. Braces are the gold standard, allowing about 95% correction. Clear trays are less than half as effective, resulting in less than 50% correction. Some General Dentists do Orthodontics, but not to the same level of sophistication as Specialists.