Have you ever wondered why your Orthodontic Treatment recommends using a retainer after taking off the braces or after the Invisalign procedure? After all, you have achieved the straight teeth—should that not mark the completion of the journey? Although putting on the braces and wearing the aligners does the hard work of straightening the teeth that are out of position, more must be done for one’s smile to be perfectly achieved. In the absence of retainers, teeth return to their original stance after a while, reversing all the efforts put into correcting the teeth.
One of the main objectives of Orthodontic Dental Treatment is to retain the treatment goals achieved. Retainers hold the teeth in a new position while the gums, ligaments, and bones adjust. Retainers are like the icing on the cake when achieving that dream smile. It is vital to wear a retainer rather than having orthodontic treatment to maintain that wonderful smile, even after several years of braces or having just completed precise aligner treatment. So what is the risk that one might take? Let us investigate the necessity of retainers.
The Value of Retainers: A Perspective
It might seem like your teeth are perfectly aligned once your braces or aligners come off. However, this can be misleading as the teeth’s supporting bone and tissue are not yet completely healed. After you finish the procedures from an Orthodontic Dentist, there is still a chance of your teeth shifting, and that’s where the retainers come in. They help retain the position of your teeth to avoid movement.
Upholding the Tooth Position
Once the phase of active orthodontic treatment is accomplished, the bone surrounding the teeth must be shaped afresh around the straightened teeth. This can mainly take time as the bone shifts for several months. That is why you wear your retainer after treatment, as this stabilises the dentition while the bone is remodelled to the new tooth positions.
Preventing Relapse
The main concern is relapse, which is the natural tendency of the teeth to revert to their former positions. Such a change can happen due to natural growth, habits such as thumb sucking and sometimes even as a result of old age. To prevent these changes in a patient’s dental arch, retainers from Northern Beaches Dentist are essential.
Adjusted to Your Teeth
The retainers are made for each patient if they support the teeth in their new positions. This makes the retainer unique for each individual patient. The orthodontist will make a retainer for you that will depend on the condition of your teeth.
Different Kinds of Retainers
Many varieties of retainers exist, so your orthodontist will suggest the most appropriate one based on your preferences and treatment plan. The two common types are:
Fixed Retainers
They are very fine wires fixed behind the teeth, often located in the lower anterior region of the jaws. They are preferred by patients who may not be consistent with their removable retainers or are highly likely to relapse because fixed retainers are readily available. In other words, fixed retainers offer support throughout the day to maintain the teeth’ positions.
Removable Retainers
Many prefer removably placed retainers, which can be removed and inserted into the mouth. Hawley’s retainers are the most common type of removably placed retainers; this appliance has a plastic base and wire for retaining the teeth only. Another sort of Retainer, which allows the teeth to stay in position and is relatively inconspicuous, is the Essix Retainer. These retainers are clear and hence do not interfere with one’s smile.
How To Take Care of Your Retainer
To make them durable and practical, Retainer maintenance is very important. The following points are to be considered;
Clean Regularly
Your teeth are not the only things that require cleaning; your retainer also requires cleaning regularly. After use, it must be rinsed with water and can be cleaned with a toothbrush and mild soap. Neither cream nor gel does scrubbing while cleaning the retainer; hence use rough surfaces of toothpaste to clean the retainer.
Store Properly
When the retainer is not being used, keep it in the come with the retainer case to help protect it from getting damaged. Do not place it on a table or kitchen counter as they may get crushed or lost.
Avoid Heat
Heat can distort plastic, and retainers are made from such materials. Do not put your retainer in hot water, direct sunlight, or a hot car. Also, whenever you are cleaning or rinsing, always use room-temperature water.
Follow Your Orthodontist’s Instructions
Following your dentist’s advice on Retainer care tips and when and how long to wear a retainer is essential. At first, it may be necessary to wear the device all the time, and later only at night. If such measures are not observed, there is a chance that your teeth will move back to their old position.
The Cost of Neglecting Retainers
The main problem that develops when you avoid wearing your retainer is connected with its consequences, and most of them are expensive. Here are a few examples of which you should be aware:
Teeth Shifting
As aforementioned, whenever retainers are not used, the tendency of your teeth in the retained position is lost, and all the teeth return to their original positions. This misalignment can cause bite issues and, in some cases, pain.
Additional Orthodontic Treatment
Wearing your retainer after orthodontic treatment is crucial for maintaining the alignment of your teeth and ensuring the benefits of orthodontic dental treatment last long term. If you skip wearing it, your teeth can start shifting back, which might lead to needing braces or aligners again something that could easily have been avoided. This also means extra costs down the line. By making the retainer a regular part of your routine, you protect the investment you’ve made in your smile and avoid unnecessary expenses.
Loss of Confidence
People often receive confident compliments or appreciation from others due to their well-shaped teeth. Shifts in tooth positions cause disruptions of perfect smiles, which may lead to poor self-esteem.
Instructive Tips on How To Develop a Daily Habit of Using a Retainer
To incorporate the use of your retainer naturally, you can consider familiarising it with your routine. Here are a few suggestions to consider:
Set Reminders
You can write down in your phone or planner some reminders on when to wear your retainer in case it will be worn during the entire period for the first several days only.
Create a Habit
You can incorporate the wearing of retainers with your existing routine. For instance, you might insert the retainer right after cleaning your teeth at night.
Evaluate How Effective You Are
Maintaining a record of how many hours you were on the retainer over a specific duration is one of the Importance of retainers. Indicate the number of hours the retainer was in use, how many times you wore it, and what feelings every wearing caused. This may help emphasise the significance of the retainer and help you remain committed to the set schedule.
Summary
Retainers form a potent component of the Orthodontic Dental Treatment and can never be downplayed. They support the teeth disrupting the natural order and help one avoid dissatisfaction after all the efforts to get that ideal smile. When you know the role of a retainer and wear it as prescribed, you help maintain the investment you made in your smile. The process doesn’t finish simply because you have gotten clear aligners or braces – it concludes with a retainer. Remember, this last hurdle isn’t something you want to miss out on, as a properly aligned smile is worth all the benefits!
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