Teen Orthodontics Stages of Treatment
Retention phase
You are the person in charge of keeping your teeth straight. How do you do this? By wearing your retainers. Retainers are used for two reasons: first, to allow bone to rebuild after your teeth have moved, and second, to keep individual teeth from drifting. In other words, retainers preserve and stabilize the results you and your orthodontist achieved through your orthodontic treatment.
How long do I have to wear retainers?
Your orthodontist will recommend how long to continue wearing your retainers, whether they are removable (the kind you put in and take out) or fixed (bonded behind your teeth). Wearing your retainers as prescribed is the best way to keep your teeth from moving after your orthodontic treatment. There are many reasons teeth may move following orthodontic treatment. Teeth are not set in concrete; they are in bone. And because bone around your teeth is continually changing (breaking down and rebuilding), your teeth may shift after your braces are removed. By wearing your retainers, your teeth are more likely to remain where your orthodontist has placed them.
What kinds of retainers can I choose from?
There are many types and designs of both upper and lower retainers. Your orthodontist has prescribed custom retainers that are best for you. But retainers can only do their jobs if you do yours by wearing them as instructed by your orthodontist.
Meet our Orthodontists
Our Orthodontic specialists at Appolonia received an additional three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth as well as years of experience in treating patients of all ages.
