Page 15 - Orthosmile Orthodontics

What Happens

After Braces?

After nishing braces treatment, your braces will be tooth movement would have occurred during the
removed to unveil your beautiful smile. You will then be orthodontic treatment.When braces are removed, the
entering an important phase of your treatment—the teeth and tissues have not completely adjusted to their
Retention Phase. Completed orthodontic treatment does new positions yet. Therefore retainers are necessary to
not guarantee perfectly straight teeth for the rest of your hold the teeth in their new positions, allowing for settling
life. Teeth have a memory and often try to move back to of the supporting tissues. If they are not worn according to
their original positions. Retainers are required to keep instructions, the teeth may move out of alignment.
your teeth in their new positions. Regular retainer wear is Unfortunately, some patients do not take this phase of
often necessary for a lifetime as your body is continually their treatment seriously and do not wear their retainers
undergoing growth and maturation. Minor irregularities, well. As a result, their teeth go crooked again and may
particularly in the lower front teeth, may occur. In require braces again to straighten their teeth. Usually you
summary, you need your retainers to keep your teeth as will have to wear the removable retainers day and night for
straight as possible. 1 month, followed by after school for 6 months, and then
three days a week after school. If you want your teeth to
On completion of the orthodontic treatment, we normally stay straight, you will have to wear them for the rest of
provide two types of retainers: your life (enough so that the retainers t perfectly and the
teeth stay put). Ultimately, the removable retainers are
(1) Fixed retainers – these are thin Titanium wire bonded worn mainly at night to ensure that a healthy bite and
to the back of the front six teeth. These are not visible fabulous smile will be maintained for life!
and are comfortable.
(2) Removable clear retainers – these retainers are hardly We hope you can see the importance of having the
visible and can be removed during eating and sports. retainers and we also hope this information clari es some
There usually will be a short period of about 2 weeks of the common questions you may have about them.
required to adapt and get use to the retainers. Most These retainers are de nitely a worthwhile investment
children get used to the retainers within the rst week. considering all the time and expenses spent in giving you
a beautiful smile. Studies and statistics have shown that
Some patients receive a different type of retainers teeth can and will move at any time. This variable pattern
depending on their unique initial malocclusion. We will let of gradual shifting, called maturational change, slows
you know if you need special retainers. All retainers are down after the early 20s, but still continues to a degree
tted to help make sure that your teeth do not move. This throughout life for most people. Even children whose
is particularly important since a signi cant amount of teeth developed into ideal alignment and bite without
treatment may develop orthodontic problems as adults.
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