Getting straight teeth can be a life-changing experience. After all of the wires, brackets, and dental work that goes into getting your teeth perfectly aligned, the next step is to ensure that your teeth stay put. That’s where retainers come into the picture.
Dr. Kelley Mingus is a world-renowned orthodontist who believes that retainers are an essential part of orthodontic treatment. With over a decade of experience, Dr. Mingus has seen first-hand the damage that can be caused when patients neglect to use their retainers. Given the emphasis she places on proper care of retainers, it’s not surprising that her patients are more likely to have lasting results.
What is a Retainer?
A retainer is a custom-made dental device that helps hold your teeth in place after having braces. There are several types of retainers and they typically need to be worn for some time after braces are removed to help prevent teeth from shifting back to their original position. This is important because the ligaments of the teeth will continually try to return to their old positions. Retainers help prevent this.
How Retainers Work
When orthodontic treatment is done, the braces have helped move the teeth into their correct positions and now it’s time for the ligaments and muscles to adapt to the new position. The retention phase begins. Retainers prevent shifting, help muscles and ligaments adapt, and maintain the progress from orthodontic treatment; all key to maintaining that beautiful smile.
Benefits of Using Retainers
Patients who use retainers as instructed by their orthodontist are more likely to keep their teeth in thier new, straightened positions. By wearing a retainer, teeth won’t lose their new, straight positions, avoiding the need for another trip to the orthodontics’ office. And most importantly, wearing a retainer will help you keep your smile – and the time and money spent achieving it.
The Risks of Not Using Retainers
Dr. Mingus says the biggest risk of not using retainers is that teeth will shift out of their newly aligned position. This shift, known as ‘relapse’, can occur quickly and be hard to reverse. For some patients, relapse can occur immediately, some months later, or perhaps years later. Dr. Mingus points out that this is a highly individual factor and varies from patient to patient.
Another potential risk of not using a retainer is the emergence of a misalignment. If relapse is allowed to happen, the patient may need to have orthodontic treatment all over again.
Conclusion
Getting straight teeth is an investment. Not only does it require time, but also it requires a financial investment. After braces come off, many people are eager to throw away their retainers. Unfortunately, this is not an option. Orthodontic treatment is not over until the retainer gets into the patient’s hands.
Dr. Mingus believes that retainers are crucial to maintaining the results of orthodontic treatment, and patients should adhere diligently to the instructions given by their orthodontist. In the end, the hard work needs to be maintained. The compliance of patients is crucial to prevent the need for additional orthodontic treatment.