Retainers

Retainers After Braces & Invisalign Maintaining Your New Smile!

Although you likely don’t realize it, our teeth are always on the move. Just as our skin wrinkles and our hair eventually turns gray, our teeth naturally shift positions as we move on through life. On a day-to-day basis, this small tooth movement is hardly noticeable. Over time, however, changes can start to become obvious—especially for those who have undergone orthodontic treatment.

Successful orthodontic work always ends with a brand-new smile for the patient. After orthodontic treatment, patients finish their treatment with a perfectly aligned set of teeth. But even though these teeth are flawlessly aligned, they can quickly move out of their positions due to natural forces.

Thankfully, unwanted tooth movement is easy to prevent with the help of a retainer. On this page, we take a close look at why teeth move, explain why it’s important for orthodontic patients to use retainers after ortho! treatment and examine the different types of retainers available today.

WHY PATIENTS NEED TO WEAR RETAINERS AFTER BRACES-EXPLAINED!

Before we dive into retainers, it's important to understand why teeth naturally move.

Teeth are anchored to the jawbone by their roots, which are the largest part of the tooth, located beneath the gums. These roots extend from just below the tooth’s crown into a socket in the jawbone, ensuring that teeth remain securely in place. However, while these roots are robust, they don’t entirely prevent teeth from shifting. Some movement is necessary for chewing food effectively. Surrounding each tooth is the periodontal ligament, a network of fibers that absorbs and distributes pressure, allowing us to eat without damaging our teeth.

Despite the vital role of the periodontal ligament in facilitating chewing, its elasticity can lead to gradual tooth movement. While most of this movement is minor, certain factors can contribute to more significant shifts. These factors include: