For many people getting braces removed is a relief and comes with a feeling of freedom and joy. That being said, many individuals are often disappointed when they learn that they now have to wear a retainer. However, while wearing a retainer isn’t the most fun, it is necessary to maintain your new smile. In this blog post, our team at E&S Orthodontics takes a look at the reasons you need to wear a retainer and explains how long you can expect to have this unwelcome visitor in your mouth.
Why Are Retainers Necessary?
There is a common misconception that retainers in Phoenix are only used following braces treatment. In reality, retainers need to be worn after a patient goes through any form of alignment treatment, be that Invisalign or oral surgery.
When the position of your teeth has recently been changed, the gum and bone supporting them and keeping them in place are not as strong as they once were, and they need some time to gain their strength back. This is where retainers come in- they serve as temporary support until the supporting structures in your mouth have recovered.
Failing to wear your retainer as directed by orthodontists in Glendale will cause your teeth to gradually shift back into an undesirable position, making any previous treatments a waste of money and time.
Will You Always Need to Wear Your Retainer?
For most adults and teenagers, wearing a retainer to bed and in between meals is ideal for the first few months following orthodontic treatments near you. As your teeth slowly settle into their corrected positions, you can wear your retainer less often, although wearing it longer will not cause any harm.
How Long Will You Need to Wear Your Retainer For?
After spending so much time on orthodontic treatments such as braces or Invisalign, you are probably starting to wonder if your mouth will ever be free of dental appliances.
In an ideal world, you would wear your retainers for the rest of your life, but we understand that you want to give your mouth a break.
After the first year of wearing retainers, you will only need to wear your retainer for a few nights a week to ensure your teeth stay in place. Generally, our orthodontist suggests that you wear a retainer for slightly longer than you wore your braces or aligners for. For example, if you wore braces for one year, you will need to wear your retainer as often as you can for a little over a year before reducing your wear time.
Scaling Down
Going from wearing retainers near you full-time to only a few nights a week is not a quick process. If you want your teeth to remain in their new positions, then it is important to gradually lower the amount of time you spend wearing your retainer.
Speak with your orthodontist to develop a safe and effective schedule for rolling back your wear time that won’t undo the progress you have made with your smile.
The Bottom Line
Our team at E&S Orthodontics understands that wearing braces and retainers isn’t exactly fun, but the effort and time are worth it in the long run, where you get the confident, healthy smile you have been yearning for. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. We are happy to help you achieve the smile of your dreams.
