Even though your braces are now off, there is probably still a bit more to do – wear your retainer! In most cases, the role of the retainer is to keep your newly straightened teeth set in their new position now that your braces are off.  When you first have your braces removed the bone around the teeth is still quite soft from the movements of your teeth and it needs some time to ‘harden’.

I am often asked, “will my teeth go back to how they were if i don’t wear my retainer”? Though it is quite unlikely that all the work the braces have done making your smile perfect will be undone by not wearing your retainer, it is almost certain that you will experience more shifting of the teeth than if you don’t

It is very tempting to now wear your retainers, but after all the hard work and expense of braces, i’m sure you want to keep your teeth as they are. Your almost at the finish line, don’t give up now.

Once you have chosen what kind of Orthodontic treatment is best for you, have visited Dr. Walkow, started your treatment and have your braces fitted, your main concern will shift away from your concerns about beginning Orthodontic treatment and choosing which kind of braces to get,  to “What will happen when i take my braces off and what can i expect?”. Eventhough you may have just started you treatment, it doesn’t hurt to have an idea of what happens at the end.

Firstly, having your braces removed WILL NOT HURT. Yet i’m sure that at this point, having had braces fitted, and gone through your entire Orthodontic treatment, you will be confident that any of your concerns about pain are unfounded, right?

Upon having your braces removed, removing the braces will take between 45mins and 2 hours, the first thing to do is give your teeth a proper clean.

Dr Walkow will then take a set of X-rays and bite impressions to check how well the braces straightened your teeth and to take a final record of the alignment of your teeth.

It may be the case that your wisdom teeth have started to emerge DURING your treatment, if this is the case DON’T PANIC. Dr Walkow will recommend that your wisdom teeth now be removed. This will ensure your new, awesome smile does not get disrupted by the emergent wisdom teeth causing overcrowding and shifting your now perfectly aligned teeth.

So now your braces are off you are done, right? Nope. At this point a new word becomes part of your daily vocabulary. RETAINER.

What is a Retainer?

A retainer is a removable orthodontic appliance typically made of rubber or clear plastic and metal wire that cover the outside surface of the teeth and is custom made for your oral profile. You wear a retainer once your braces are removed to make sure that your teeth remain in their new position.

The use of a retainer is an exceptionally important part of post treatment and should be taken seriously. Your retainer will need to be worn most of the time during the first 6 months after having your braces removed. Then subsequently usually only during sleep, yet the needs and requirement for wearing a retainer will vary from patient to patient and be quite dependent on the type of treatment they have received.

Why is a retainer so important?

The reason why a retainer is important is that even though braces may appear to have successfully straightened your teeth, your teeth will still need to settle into their new position. The bones will still be relatively  soft and your gums, adapt to the change. Also, after long periods of time, teeth tend to shift.

Having your braces removed will definitely feel strange, take is easy with hard founds for a while and take some time to get used to being without them.