When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. The retention phase lasts for a minimum of 24 months. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far. Remember to remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer before placing it back in your mouth.
Relapse, the tendency for orthodontically treated teeth to alter their positions, may be minimized by the conscientious wearing of retainers. Forces on the teeth from everyday function i.e. chewing, speaking, grinding, etc. can alter the alignment of teeth and bite. Minor irregularities are considered clinically acceptable.
For straight teeth, permanent (lifelong) retention is required. We routinely place a bonded wire behind the lower front teeth to maintain reasonable alignment of those teeth. Clear plastic retainers are worn a minimum of 12 hours per day to maintain the alignment of all other teeth.