If you suffer from crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, you can blame genetics for putting you through orthodontic treatments to fix these problems. Unfortunately, having your braces removed is not the end of your treatment. The final part of your treatment is the retention phase—where you’ll need to wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from shifting. Without the help of retainers, genetics will come into play and revert your teeth into how they used to be before they got treated. Retainers are more comfortable than braces because they are removable, but don’t give in to the temptation of not wearing them!
Through the following points below, Comfort Dental Care & Orthodontics will discuss four fantastic facts about retainers! Read on to know what these facts are.
Retainers help stabilize your bite
After your braces are removed, your soft tissues and bone will need time to adapt to the changes in the position of your teeth. Over time, they will be able to stabilize in their new arrangement and decrease the likelihood of relapse or having teeth shift out of their positions. If you wear your retainers for at least 12 to 22 hours each day, for at least two months, you can prevent a relapse.
There are many available options for retainers
At some point, all retainers were removable and made out of pink plastic and silvery wire. This kind of retainer is still available, but you have several choices available now. You can pick from different colors, patterns, or even customize your own if you’d like. There is also an alternative that happens to be a clear retainer that fits over your teeth, making it seem invisible. You can also opt for thin wire bonded to the inside of your teeth instead of having a removable retainer.
You’ll have to wear your retainer less over time
At first, you will probably need to wear your retainer at all times. However, there will come a time where they will be a lot easier to manage, and you’ll only have to wear them at night. You can think of it as a way to ease yourself out of orthodontic treatment and finding your way into a brand-new smile. This stage also helps your teeth avoid damage by allowing the process to end slowly and gently.
Retainers maintain space for wisdom teeth and new teeth
Braces are commonly worn by teenagers and preteens, with bodies that are still developing. They would most likely use retainers around the time the wisdom teeth erupt. If you’re still waiting for your wisdom teeth to come out, diligently using a retainer will help accommodate new teeth like wisdom teeth. Using retainers ensure that the teeth do not shift or crowd due to lack of space.
Don’t let your teeth revert to their crooked or misaligned state through the help of Retainers in Mary Esther, FL. Schedule an appointment with us at Comfort Dental Care & Orthodontics. We are located at 460 Mary Esther Blvd., Mary Esther, FL 32569.