- What is my responsibility in keeping
my teeth straight?
Once your braces have been removed and you have beautiful, well aligned teeth, you
will need to wear retainers to keep them that way. At first, you will be asked to
wear your retainers all the time, except when eating and brushing your teeth. After
one year, when your teeth have had adequate time to stabilize, your will be instructed
to wear your retainers at night only.
If you do not wear your retainers as instructed your teeth will move. Rotations
and tipping of the teeth may occur and spaces may open between the teeth.
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- How long will I wear retainers?
Retention is a lifetime commitment. As previous stated, after one year retainer
wear will be decreased to night only but it will be your responsibility to continue
to wear your retainers indefinitely to maintain the alignment of the teeth.
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- What causes the teeth to shift after
the braces have been removed?
As a general rule, teeth naturally shift as we age. Very few people have naturally
straight teeth. A variety of forces act throughout life to cause the teeth to change
position. This includes natural wearing of the teeth from chewing, placement of
fillings and crowns, gum disease, removal of teeth and changes in the bones and
muscles of the face with age. Although the shifting is usually very slight and gradual,
if the front teeth are involved you may not be happy with your appearance.
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- What should you do if your retainers
become lost, broken, or do not fit?
Please call our office immediately to avoid any shifting of the teeth. If the retainer
is bent or broken, a new retainer must be made to maintain the alignment of the
teeth. There is a charge for this service. If you wait, your straight teeth may
shift to the point where a retainer will not straighten them. If this occurs, retreatment
involving the placement of braces will be necessary to realign the teeth.
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- What about future appointments?
You will be contacted periodically by our office to check and adjust your retainers.
These appointments are necessary to ensure that your retainers are fitting properly
and comfortably. We will check the alignment of your teeth and your bite and, with
your permission, take any necessary x-rays to check the development of your wisdom
teeth, if they are present. There will be charges for any necessary x-rays and your
checkup appointments.
If we cannot reach you or you do not hear from us periodically, please contact our
office. If you have a change of address or telephone number, please let us know.
Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy your beautiful smile!
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