By Orthodontic Gallery on Orthodontics and Retainers.
What is an Orthodontic relapse?
An Orthodontic relapse is when a patient’s teeth move out of their new alignment and back to their original position after their active Orthodontic treatment.
This is usually due patients not wearing their retainers. It is vital to wear your retainers as prescribed after active Orthodontic treatment in order to retain your finished results and prevent Orthodontic relapse.
Why are retainers so important?
It is not uncommon for people to ignore their Orthodontist’s advice about retainer wear, this can and is likely to lead to a relapse.
Retainers are designed to keep teeth aligned after Orthodontic treatment, and without wearing them, the teeth can move back to their pre-treatment position which will require re-treatment.
Wearing retainers also helps prevent more serious issues that can develop due to a relapse such as gum disease or an incorrect bite. The teeth might drift out of their proper alignment, leading to speech impediments and chewing problems.
We recommend that you wear your retainers every night for the first 12 months after completing active Orthodontic treatment and then you can gradually reduce the amount of time worn. We will advise you at your retainer review appointments if you can begin to reduce your retainer wear.
At Orthodontic Gallery we always advise our patients to wear their retainers for as long as they want straight teeth!
Treatment of Orthodontic relapse
If you notice your teeth starting shift after Orthodontic treatment you should contact your Orthodontic team straight away. Treating an Orthodontic relapse early can be as simple as wearing your retainers more regularly and assuring you are dedicated to your retainer wear at night.
If your relapse is more severe or it has been many years since you had active Orthodontic treatment, then re-treatment is likely to be needed. The good news is that relapse cases tend to take less time to correct than your original Orthodontic treatment.
Treating a relapse with Invisalign
Invisalign clear aligners are a popular option for treating Orthodontic relapse because they’re less noticeable and more comfortable than traditional braces. They work using series of clear, removable, SmartTrack aligners, that apply gentle pressure to your teeth over a period of time, gradually shifting them back into place.
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Retainers at Orthodontic Gallery
At Orthodontic gallery we provide fixed and removable retainers after active Orthodontic treatment as a belt & braces approach to retention. You must wear retainers for as long as you want straight teeth.
Fixed retainers consist of fine wires, which are securely bonded to the back surface of the teeth to keep them in position.
Bonded retainers are particularly advantageous as they are hidden from view and, as they are fixed permanently in place, you won’t forget to put them in!
They are especially recommended if you had very twisted or rotated front teeth.
Your removable retainers should be worn every night for the first year and then we will advise you at your retainer reviews if you can continue with 2-3 nights a week.
If you lose your retainer or it is damaged in any way you should contact us immediately so that we can replace or fix it as soon as possible before your teeth notice they are missing!
Retention Review
At Orthodontic Gallery we are dedicated to providing our patients with the very best care. This includes after you have had active Orthodontic treatment!
We keep our patients under retention review for 2 years before we fully discharge them. This is to check you’re still wearing them, they still fit and that you’re still happy with your Orthodontic result.
We will see you after 3,6,15 and 24 months and will advise you as to when you can reduce your retainer wear.
If you are considering Orthodontic treatment for a relapse or if you would like to know more about the retainers, we offer then get in touch today!