When orthodontic treatment is complete, patients are given retainers. This is because when braces are first removed, the teeth are very mobile. The bone around them has not healed enough to make them more stable. Thus, retainers are necessary to help maintain the orthodontic result.
We typically ask patients to wear retainers at night until their wisdom teeth have been removed. Then, patients are to wear their retainers enough to maintain their fit. Some patients may even need to merely try them on weekly, while others need to wear them as often as every night.
Because patients who are careless in wearing their retainers will experience change – and their parents get upset with them because of their investment – we follow every patient with retainers for at least 18 months. This also depends upon the age at which the patient finished their orthodontic treatment. We will typically monitor patients until we recommend the removal of the wisdom teeth.