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 Congratulations! Now
your braces are off, and the active part of orthodontic treatment is
over. You now enter what we call the retention phase. To retain
means to hold. Your teeth must now be held in the place they
moved to by your orthodontic appliances. They must be held
there until the tissues (bone, the elastic membranes surrounding the
root, the gums and the tongue) have adapted to the new tooth
positions. If we did not make an effort to retain the teeth in
their new position, they would tend to move back to their original
position.
Your doctor will determine
how long you need to wear your retainer. Time varies with each
patient. Some people may need retainers for an extended period of
time in order to eliminate shifting of the teeth. In some cases,
permanent retention may be necessary.
The retention period is an
important part of your overall treatment and should not be neglected! Remember, wear them in your
mouth, not in your pocket. Retainers work when you follow our
instructions.
Clean your retainers! After
meals, clean all parts of the retainer with a brush.
Handle your retainers with
care. Retainers are easy to lose. If you take your retainers out,
always place them in your retainer case for safety.
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