Your orthodontic treatment doesn’t stop when your braces are removed. Retention is an important part of the orthodontic process because your teeth can still move, or relapse, after the braces are removed. This is because the bone around the roots of your teeth remodels as teeth are moving. In fact, it’s normal for teeth to feel loose during treatment. Once the teeth are in their final positions, the bone reforms and solidifies in the new position. Retainer wear is most critical during the first nine months after your braces are removed while the bone finishes remodeling. We recommend full-time wear of the removable upper retainer during these first nine months, then bedtime wear thereafter.
The lower retainer is a short piece of round stainless steel wire, that is bonded to the back surfaces of the lower six front teeth. The lower retainer is placed the same day the braces are removed to keep the front teeth from shifting. The lower retainers are bonded, so they cannot be misplaced or forgotten, which ensures that the front teeth remain straight. The only drawback to this retainer is that it takes more time to floss, and Super-Floss or Floss-Threaders must be used.
Retention should be thought of as a life-long concern, as your life-long result depends on your life-long commitment. Thus, we encourage patients to wear the upper retainer at bedtime indefinitely as they are a simple insurance policy for keeping your beautiful smile. Just think of your retainer as pajamas for your teeth!
Think of your retainer as a personal use item, like eyeglasses, which have to be replaced every few years. Your retainers will need to be replaced when they wear out. Please call us for repairs and replacement.