The day you get your braces off is a big day! You can finally eat all those foods that you haven’t been able to for months. However, don’t get so caught up in the excitement that you forget that your orthodontic treatment isn’t quite over.
Whether you had metal braces, clear braces or removable Invisalign aligners, you will need to wear retainers. At first you may be required to wear them 12-22 hours per day. This recommendation is based on many factors including the severity of your initial problem, your age, and whether we are using the retainers to finalize a few tooth positions.
People used to think that when their braces came off that their teeth would stay that straight forever. However, in the last twenty years or so, research has shown that there isn’t one right position to move teeth that will guarantee a permanent result. Typically as people get older, their teeth shift no matter what, whether they’ve had orthodontic treatment or not. So keeping up a new, straight smile is a long-term commitment.
In short, it’s important to wear your retainer – correctly, and as often as your orthodontist recommends – to prevent your teeth from moving out of their new alignment once your braces have been removed.
If you are in the CSRA area and are looking for more information on post-orthodontic treatment with retainers, or need to be fitted with a new one, we at Carter Orthodontics can take care of you!
Get in touch with us to schedule an appointment, or call us at (706) 650-0468
