Post Treatment Questions

Only you can keep your teeth straight after your orthodontic treatment! Your teeth will likely move if you don't wear your retainers. If you choose not to wear your retainers, you must assume responsibility for any tooth movement. If the teeth shift, the only way to recover could be through re-treatment and additional expense.

In most cases, about 95% of orthodontic correction is retained. We've worked hard together getting to where you are now. Please wear your retainers so that you can keep a beautiful smile and a healthy bite for years to come!

I just got my braces off and my gums seem puffy and red.  Is this common?

When you first get your braces off your gums will feel puffy and seem somewhat red.  With continued gentle gum massage this will decrease within a couple of days.  If you are experiencing ongoing problems with your gums longer than a couple of days, please contact your general dentist.

How often will I need to visit my orthodontist now that my braces are off?

You will have very few visits to our office now, but checking your retainer is still very important.  We will continue to see you for yearly checkups until the age of 18, at which time you are invited to call as needed.  Always remember to bring your retainer to every appointment. 

Why are retainers needed after orthodontic treatment?

Your invisible retainer is designed to hold your teeth in their corrected position until the bone surrounding the roots of the moved teeth "fill in" and make them "solid." If we do not retain (or hold) orthodontic tooth movement, the teeth will move back to their old positions and all that time wearing braces would be wasted.

How often and how long will I need to wear my retainers?

When you’ve completed the moving part of your treatment, you’re ready for the holding part!  The next few months will be a critical part of your treatment.  If your retainer is going to do the job, you need to wear your retainers as instructed!  As an unofficial “insurance policy”, it is recommended you wear your retainer on a nightly basis indefinitely.  After the age of 18, you will gradually be able to cut back on the number of nights you need to wear your retainer; however, we will instruct you on this process at your followup appointments.  Eventually, you will be able to simply try your retainer on and if it feels somewhat tight, wear it for the night.  If it feels okay, you can skip that night.

What kind of special care do my retainers require?

The product we recommend using is called Retainer Brite in which you soak your retainers in water and one of the dissolvable tablets for 15-20 minutes. Retainer Brite is available at our office for a nominal charge. Another way of keeping your retainers fresh and clean is brushing them with cool water and a soft bristle toothbrush. You should be aware, however, that brushing them with a toothbrush can leave “cloudy” appearance.

What if I need new retainers?

Retainers are like eyeglasses, contact lenses, or any other personal item that is worn daily - they will wear out. With proper care and use, the average life of your retainer should be two years. If you lose or break a retainer, please call us as soon as possible. If you have the molds from when your retainers were originally made, you can drop these off at the front desk of our office. If you do not have the original molds, we will need to schedule an appointment for you to have impressions taken for new retainers. A nominal fee will be charged for replacement of retainers.

Will I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?

If still present, your wisdom teeth should be evaluated by an Oral Surgeon between the ages of 17 and 19.