![]() ![]() If the movement that has occurred is minor, sometimes merely wearing your retainer full-time for several weeks will realign the teeth (similar to how clear aligners work). What Are the Options If Your Teeth Have Moved? We call this beneficial relaxation “settling.” When the movement happens up front where people can see it, we call this “relapse.” The goal of orthodontic retention is to allow desirable settling while minimizing unwanted relapse. This slight change in tooth position is good when it results in the improvement of the bite. Not All Post-Treatment Tooth Movement is Badįollowing orthodontic treatment either by braces or aligners, the teeth naturally “relax” without the wires or plastic to prevent their movement. In most cases, however, the retainer is fine, but the teeth have shifted. In some cases, retainers are damaged, distorted, or “wear out” with daily use. Generally, it is simple to determine which has occurred. Either the retainer has changed, or the teeth have moved. When a patient returns to our office with a retainer that hurts when they wear it, there are only two possible explanations. The only way to preserve the results is by wearing retainers… FOREVER! Although our patients acknowledge this on removal day, forever is a long time and for a variety of reasons, many discontinue wear at some point.Ī Retainer That Hurts Usually Means that Your Teeth Have Moved The Only Way to Keep Your Teeth Straight is Wearing Your Retainerįrom decades of clinical research, we have learned that no matter how we straighten the teeth, they tend to move after treatment has ended. We check every retainer for comfort on the first day and remake any that are not right. Although new retainers may feel “snug,” they should snap into place cleanly and not cause any pain. ![]() On the day treatment ends, my assistants and I instruct our patients that they must wear their retainers every night for the rest of their lives, or their teeth will move. Getting straight teeth, however, is only half the battle. Charges only apply if there is need to replace a lost or broken retainer or if there is need for additional treatment.The most exciting day of orthodontic treatment is the day the braces come off. If you complete your treatment with us, we will never charge you to be seen for a routine retainer check or adjustment (no matter how long ago you completed treatment with your braces or clear aligners). After that, if you come to see your orthodontist for future retention visits, you’ll need to pay an office visit charge for any retainer adjustments.Īt Berkeley Orthodontics, we offer lifelong retention services. Most orthodontic practices will remove your braces, make retainers for you, and check up on you a few months later to make sure everything is staying in place. Lifelong retention care at Berkeley Orthodontics They are well known in our community for their artistic touch and ingenious retainer designs. There are several different colors and designs to choose from! Our lab technicians are career employees with decades of experience in retainer fabrication. There are a few different types of retainers that your orthodontist may recommend – check them out here. If you don’t want to see much change in our perfect orthodontic result and your beautiful smile, accept the fact that retention is forever. Your retainer is your friend! It helps you maintain the perfect tooth alignment that your orthodontist has created. The fact of the matter is that teeth can move throughout life, whether or not you had orthodontic treatment. Even after the first year, teeth can shift and move. Retainers help the teeth to stay in their new positions while the gums and the bony support catch up. When your teeth are moved by braces or clear aligners, your gum tissue and bony structures must “catch up” with the teeth and form around the new root positions. You can imagine that after a lifetime of your teeth sitting in a certain position, the gum tissue around them is shaped in a certain way. The first year after braces come off is when retention is most critical. It is the phase where the newly perfect position of your teeth must be retained. Did you know that getting your braces off is not the end of treatment? There is still more to do! “Retention” is the phase of treatment after your teeth are beautifully aligned and your orthodontist has removed your braces.
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