Finishing orthodontic treatment is a huge milestone! However, your orthodontic treatment isnâ€t complete just yet.
As the teeth are part of the body system, which is a biological system, there can be a natural tendency for teeth to move once braces are removed. This is termed â€œorthodontic relapseâ€. You might be aware of people who have had braces and later complain that, after removal of the braces, their teeth have â€œmoved backâ€. This situation is avoidable if a proper retention phase is planned and maintained.
Retention is critical to ensure that your teeth will look as good in years to come, as they do on the day your braces (or clear aligners) are removed. This makes the retention phase of orthodontic treatment that immediately follows removal of braces or clear aligner treatment really important.
A retention program is individually tailored for each patient and involves a fixed bonded lingual wire and removable retainers. These retention appliances are designed simply to hold the teeth in place once braces are removed and are generally not visible, and very simple to wear and maintain. We talk to all new patients about retention at their first initial consultation.