Finishing orthodontic treatment is a big deal to get the perfect smile but you need to follow up with your retainer use to keep those results. Retention is one of the most important parts of orthodontic care and we at Specialty Smiles want to make sure you know that. Teeth naturally want to go back to their original position if you don’t use your retainer regularly. This can undo months or years of orthodontic work.
To understand how retainers work you need to know how teeth move and stay in place in your mouth. During orthodontic treatment, controlled forces slowly move teeth into the best position for them. But the bone and ligaments that support your teeth need more time to get used to their new position. Retainers put gentle, steady pressure on the teeth to keep them in the right position while the tissues heal and stay that way.
Different types of retainers meet the needs and wants of different patients. Clear plastic retainers look great and feel great for patients who want to hide their teeth during the retention phase. These clear devices fit perfectly over your teeth and are almost invisible when you wear them. Clear retainers also keep teeth from grinding at night and keep them in the right position throughout the critical stabilization period.
For many patients around the world, traditional wire retainers are still the way to go. These devices have metal wires that are custom moulded and set into acrylic bases that fit your lips perfectly. Although wire retainers are more visible than clear ones, they are often more durable and last longer if patients follow the care instructions exactly.
Bonded retainers are permanent retention solutions that eliminate compliance problems. These thin wires go straight to the back of your front teeth and keep them in place without having to take them out and put them back in every day. However, bonded retainers need you to take good care of your teeth and get them cleaned by a professional on a regular basis to keep plaque from building up around the attachment points.
Taking care of your retainer properly will make it work better and last longer. Here’s how to paraphrase: The schedule of appointments changes a lot from patient to patient depending on how complex their treatment is, how old they are and how likely they are to relapse. Most patients start with wearing their retainers all day for a few months. As their teeth settle down, they switch to night time wear. Some people need to wear them all day for stability and others just need midnight wear.
Patients in North Miami ask us how long they will need to wear their teeth and when they will need new ones. Most of the time, removable retainers need to be replaced every 1-3 years because they wear out and the material breaks down. We can monitor how well the retainer fits and works during regular visits and we can tell you when to replace it to make sure it works well during the retention phase.
Modern retainer technology is always getting better with better materials and ways of making things. Digital scanning and computer-aided design make retainers that fit better and are more comfortable than old impression methods. These advancements yield better fitting appliances that patients use more consistently resulting to better long term treatment outcome and higher patient satisfaction.
Protecting your investment is another important part of retention care planning. Orthodontic treatment is expensive so following the rules for using a retainer is important to protect this big investment. Replacing a retainer is not that expensive compared to the cost of having to have your teeth treated again if they move back to where they were before.
We also offer full Braces for Adults services to patients in North Miami who want traditional orthodontic solutions. We promise to take care of you at every stage of treatment from the first consultation to lifelong assistance for your teeth. Call Specialty Smiles today to talk about your retention needs and keep that beautiful smile for years to come.