Why do I need to wear retainers after my orthodontic treatment?
The simple answer is teeth are always moving.
The retention stage of treatment is just as important as the active stages of your orthodontic treatment. If you have completed orthodontic treatment with Braces or Invisalign, a retainer is required to be worn after treatment to help make sure the teeth stay where we want them too.
The retention stage of treatment is simply the period of time in which you are wearing retainers, initially retainers are to be worn for 6 weeks fulltime and then moving into night wear after that. You will still be required to attend short check appointments every 3-6 months after deband (removal) of your Braces or Invisalign to ensure your retainers are fitting well and to check alignment and bite.
During these appointments your orthodontist will advise you on how often they are wanting you to be wearing your retainer for.
At Fresh Smiles orthodontics we offer several different options of retainers, and your orthodontist will advise you on what they recommend.
The most common retainer options are;
- In-house retainers, a single set of Upper and Lower clear retainers that are fitted over the teeth.
- Vivera retainers, clear retainers in which we scan for and send to Invisalign to be created. Vivera retainers come in a set of 3 so you have back up retainers in case one is misplaced or broken. It is also a benefit to have spare retainers if you are travelling.
After all your hard work making it to the end of your smile journey you need to be sure to wear your retainers as instructed by your orthodontist to prevent needing orthodontic treatment all over again!