How Long Do I Have to Wear My Retainer?
At Sequence Orthodontics, we have watched the spectacular development of orthodontics. We are proud to be able to offer more services at lower prices than ever before. Tooth correction is now easier and more affordable than ever before. More patients are contacting us looking for ways to improve their smile forever, knowing they can find cost-effective, discrete solutions when they want to correct crooked or misaligned teeth.
We can guarantee life-long results to our patients who use retainers. Most patients will need to wear retainers for the rest of their life to guarantee that their teeth do not shift or move back into their previous position. Because braces are corrective, wearing retainers regularly helps make sure that old problems remain in the past.
What Do Retainers Do?
Simply put, retainers keep your teeth in place. They were developed to combat one of the greatest drawbacks of braces in the past; after years of pain, money and visits to the orthodontist, people found that their teeth gradually moved back into their original positions. Unfortunately, tooth shift is caused by a variety of problems, so there is no single way to prevent tooth shift. The only guaranteed prevention for tooth shift is to wear your retainer every night. The pressure applied by your retainers guarantees that you will keep your amazing results for the rest of your life. Retainers are molded to your teeth to guarantee the gradual changes created by your braces resist their natural urge to shift back into place.
The most amazing thing about retainers is how easy they are to use. All you have to do is put them in during the times recommended by your orthodontist. Most people wear their retainer while they are asleep, so many of our patients never even notice they are wearing their retainer.
Why Do I Need to Wear My Retainer?
Extensive orthodontic research into the life of patients after braces shows that all teeth have the potential to move. The most vulnerable teeth are those that just underwent treatment, especially in the case of patients who had particularly crowded or crooked teeth. Your teeth are especially susceptible just after your braces are removed, as the teeth still need to settle into their new places. After months of slow pressure pushing them into the right place, your teeth will drift back to their original locations if there is no pressure keeping them in their desired location.
Although it might seem daunting to face many years of remembering to put your retainer in at night, you can rest easy knowing our knowledgeable, compassionate team at Sequence Orthodontics is here to help. Contact us today or stop by one of our convenient locations in Waldorf or Leonardtown, Maryland. We are proud to serve the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., areas with our expertise in providing the very best orthodontic care.
