Life long orthodontic retention with retainers

Orthodontic treatment process involves changes or movement in teeth position. Naturally teeth are held together by the surrounding bone and gum tissue (gingiva) with tiny elastic fibers like rubber bands. Due to movement in teeth, tiny elastic fibers get stretched. But the teeth always want to occupy their position back and also apply considerable force for it.

As our body develops and replaces tiny cells each day and with this process going on the whole body is renewed within 7 years time which is why we may forget about things that happened long ago.



However the case with tooth fibers is not so, it is probable that the teeth keep on shifting years long to get back to their actual position like it was before orthodontic treatment. But does that mean it is the shortcoming of the treatment? Which is quite costly and cannot be born without the support of financial help in the form of orthodontic insurance plan. Truly saying that it is definitely not a shortcoming, still a known trouble that can be easily tackled following proper approach.

In this orthodontic retainer acts as one of the useful orthodontic appliance to keep teeth in the position as done by orthodontists. The retainers have to be worn for 24/7 as recommended but it may also vary with individuals. Usually, it’s for 1-2 years after braces removal.

Retainers though are of various types, can broadly be divided as fixed and removable retainers. It mainly depends upon the teeth positioning etc. fixed ones are joined to the inside of the lower and upper front teeth. Lower ones lasts long and is very common whereas the upper ones may pose problems due to pressure exerted on them at the time of eating. On the other side we have acrylic, wire & clear retainers and positioner.

Advantages and disadvantages lies with each so as with fixed retainers you not at the risk of forgetting to wear and remove retainers and gives better results but you may have to compromise with oral hygiene as it’s just reversed for removable retainers.

But the main thing to be remembered is that the retainers constitute the most important part of orthodontics and has to be worn so long teeth has to be positioned correctly, and not that they are optional.