End of Orthodontic Treatment

End of Orthodontic Treatment

Although you have been wearing your retainers for approximately 12 months, and may feel tempted to not wear your retainers anymore, please resist this temptation, and read the following carefully.

Why do I still need to wear retainers?

Although the first 12 months is when your teeth are most likely to move back to their original position (relapse), please note that your teeth will want to gradually move throughout your life. It is not unusual, in later life, to see crowded teeth crowd up again, especially at the front; or gaps re-open; or widened arches contract again.

Therefore, it is important that if you want to reduce the risk of your teeth moving in the fu- ture, you continue to wear your retainers longterm. These days, we say that retainers are for life!

How often do I need to wear my retainers?

During this first 12 months, you should have been wearing your retainers as close to every night as possible. After 12 months, most patients can reduce the number of nights they wear their retainers gradually. You orthodontist will advise you to reduce this to alternative nights for the following 6 months. During this time, it is important that you monitor yourself how well your retainers still fit (as this is a good visual guide as to how stable your teeth are), but also look out for any visible signs that the teeth have moved.

If they are starting to not fit as well, or getting tighter, this is a sign that your teeth may not be stable enough, and you should increase your retainer wear to every night again for an- other month before reducing this again to alternative nights.

If after 6 months of wearing your retainers alternative nights, with no issues, you can con- sider reducing this further to twice a week. But yet again, if you suspect the same as be – fore, then please increase your retainer wear to alternative nights again for a month, be- fore reducing this to twice a week.

Please note that you will then need to commit to wearing your retainers at least once – twice per week indefinitely if you want to improve the chance of your teeth staying straight for longer.

What if I have problems with my retainers in the future?

After 12 months of supervised retention, following your braces been removed, your orthodontist will discharge you. It is however important that you still return to see your dentist for routine check ups though.

However, if you have any concerns about your teeth and any issues with your retainers, you are more than welcome to contact our practice and a member of our team will be happy to offer you advice. If necessary, you are welcome to return to see your orthodon – tist again. Please be aware that you may be asked to pay a fee for a review appointment with your orthodontist. If you do return it is useful to bring your retainers to these appointments.

Retainers do not last forever.

As with all materials, there will be limitations to their longevity, and retainers DO need to be replaced in the future. How well you look after them and keep them hygienic and clean, will increase their shelf-life. If you do need new retainers e.g. you have lost them; they are broken or cracking; no longer fitting; or very unhygienic, then please note that although new retainers can be made, an up to date impression would need to be taken, and you would be charged for new retainers.

Although it is tempting to not have new retainers made, please remember that the fee for new retainers is significantly less than a course of re-treatment involving further orthodon – tics.

Also, if you are deliberating over having new retainers made, the sooner you have them made the sooner you can wear them to reduce the risk of your teeth moving further.

Best of Luck – your efforts with be rewarded and the longer you are committed to your retainers, the greater the chance of you maintaining your fantastic smile for longer!