Orthodontic care can take years, which is why you might not be excited about wearing retainers the day your braces are removed. However, retainer use is vital for keeping your teeth in perfect alignment, even though there are a lot of temptations to skip those protective guards. Here is a brief guide for how retainers help and how long you will have to wear them after orthodontic treatment.

Understanding Retainer Use

Why Do You Have to Wear Retainers?

Braces work by placing a controlled amount of pressure on one side of the tooth, causing a small amount of tissue to resorb so the tooth can move into place. After the tooth moves, the body responds by triggering new bone growth on the other side of the tooth, a process called remodeling. Although most tooth remodeling is complete about three months after the tooth is in the proper place, stabilization can take as long as 10 months after the final movement has been made.

How Long Will You Need to Use Retainers?

As soon as braces are removed, patients are fitted for retainers. This initial set of retainers will need to be worn 24/7 for the first six months or so following treatment. After that time frame, many orthodontists recommend nightly wearing to keep the teeth in the right position.

Retainers typically need to be worn nightly as long as you wore braces, and then periodically after that time frame. For instance, if you wore braces for two years, your dentist may recommend wearing your retainers all the time for six months, nightly for the next year and a half, and then a few times a week for the rest of your life.

Understanding how to proceed after orthodontic care isn’t always easy, which is why continuing to work with your dentist is crucial. At Lamont Jacobs Orthodontics, Inc., this experienced orthodontist focuses on patient follow-up, helping to protect results. To learn more about his practice, visit his website or call (513) 823-3143.