Retainers

If it was up to me, nobody would have to wear retainers and their teeth would never move. Unfortunately, it’s not up to me and retainers are necessary to hold your teeth in their new positions after braces or Invisalign treatment. That’s because it may take the gums and bones around your teeth up to two years to adapt to the new positions of your teeth. Until they adapt, the gums and bones will tend to move the teeth back to their old positions. Fibers in the gums are like stretched and compressed springs that put pressure on the teeth. It can take 18-24 months for those fibers to be replaced with new fibers that fit the new positions of the teeth. Retainers also safeguard against new changes caused by pressure on the teeth due to jaw growth and developing third molars, aka wisdom teeth.

A special retention plan is made for each patient according to his or her needs and preferences. The most common protocol is to wear clear “invisible” retainers full-time for two months and then traditional wire and acrylic retainers at night-time only for at least two more years.

                  

We start with clear retainers because they are easy to speak with, easy to wear full-time and virtually “invisible”. The wire and acrylic retainers are very durable and can last may years or even decades! By making two sets of retainers, patients have a spare set for emergencies. Some patients require specially designed retainers to accommodate unique challenges such as missing teeth. Others prefer a “fixed” retainer that is bonded directly to the teeth.

                    

Retainers sometimes meet their end prematurely. Dogs are attracted to retainers because of the smell of saliva and it only takes one bite to destroy a retainer. Retainers that are wrapped in a tissue or napkin often end up in the dumpster! The hard plastic case that came with the retainer is the best place to store it.

By the time 2 years have passed and growth is complete and any third molars have either grown in or been removed, an orthodontic patient is just like someone who was lucky enough to have their teeth grow in straight and aligned in the first place. Unfortunately, even those people may experience tooth movement over their lifetimes. Our bodies can change over time and our teeth are no exception. These changes typically occur very slowly, but may become noticeable over many years. For this reason, I generally recommend wearing retainers indefinitely one or twice a week. When a revision is necessary to undo changes of any kind, Invisalign is usually the treatment of choice.

Dr. Frank Egan

www.TeethOnTheMove.com