Wear You Retainer

Quest Johnson Orthodontics

Some patients are surprised to find out that orthodontic treatment does not end the moment when their braces come off. Wearing your retainer as directed keeps your smile in its new position for life.

Your retainer is designed to safeguard your newly aligned smile. Without wearing your retainer regularly, you risk your teeth drifting out of position and reversing all your hard work.

Here’s how retainers help in your orthodontic treatment:

1. They Stabilize Your Bite - Once your braces are removed, the soft tissue and bone around your teeth need time to adapt to the changes made in tooth positioning. They slowly stabilize in their new arrangement, and once that occurs, the likelihood of relapse or having the teeth shift out of their positions is minimal.

2. They Prevent Treatment Reversal - The teeth will start moving back to their old position in the months following the removal of braces. A retainer can prevent the reversal.

3. They Align Your Jaw Bones With Your Gums - When your teeth are being aligned to a new position, the gums and bones surrounding the teeth will take longer to follow suit. Retainers help in accelerating alignment and stabilizing your bite.

The long-term success of your orthodontic treatment depends upon your ability to diligently wear your retainer. If you experience any issues with your retainers or if you would like to discuss retainer options with us, give our office a call.