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Are you finally finished with your journey to a straight smile? Even if you’ve completed your initial orthodontic treatment, you’ll still need to put in some effort to keep your teeth in their new positions. Find out how here.
Orthodontic treatments, such as braces or Spark™ clear aligners, is extremely beneficial for your oral health. Having teeth that are in proper alignment and aren’t overcrowded ensures optimal oral hygiene. Plus, having a smile full of straight teeth can do wonders for your self-confidence.
Going through orthodontic treatments requires a lot of time, money, and effort. So, you want to make sure that your teeth aren’t going to move after the treatment ends.
At Hanachi Orthodontics in Gastonia and Mooresville, North Carolina, Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, and the rest of our team want you to understand that there’s a risk of your teeth shifting back to their original positions after wearing braces or clear aligners.
In this blog, we discuss why your teeth can shift back and how to keep them straight for a lifetime.
Why your teeth want to move back
Whether you realize it or not, your teeth are actually always moving. Even everyday actions such as chewing, talking, or grinding your teeth encourage them to shift positions. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stop once you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment.
When you have an orthodontic procedure, your teeth are moved from what’s considered their natural positions. Once the braces come off or you’re done with your series of aligner trays, your teeth want to move right back to those familiar places.
How to keep your straight smile in place
The real work is just beginning after you’ve completed your orthodontic treatment. This is because your teeth aren’t used to their new placement, and you have to encourage them to stay put.
You do this by wearing a retainer. As the name suggests, a retainer helps to “retain” your brand new smile. They’re customized to fit your mouth precisely in order to maintain your straight new smile.
At Hanachi Orthodontics, we offer a few different types of retainers:
Removable
Removable retainers are tailor made of clear plastic or metal and fit over your teeth and upper palate. To ensure that your teeth stay as straight as possible, wear your removable retainer as often as instructed. This is typically full-time at first and then just at night after a certain period of time has passed, at least a few months.
Fixed
Fixed retainers are cemented to the back of your teeth to keep them from shifting or moving. They’re most often used on the lower teeth, but Dr. Hanachi may recommend one for your upper teeth as well.
Next steps
If you have any questions concerning your current orthodontic treatments or treatment aftercare to prevent your teeth from shifting, don’t hesitate to contact us for more information. You can do this by calling your nearest office location or by booking online today.