What Happens If You Stop Wearing Your Retainer for a Year?
A lot of teens and adults forget that wearing a retainer is equally important as getting their braces off. Your teeth will migrate over time if you or your kids don't wear dental retainers. In the end, your teeth will revert to where they were before, which will cost you more time and money. This is why orthodontic clinics like Smiles+Grins teach their patients how to take care of their retainer after braces and keep their smile looking its best.
Why Retainers Matter Long After Braces
Retainers help to keep the teeth in position while the surrounding tissues heal and stabilize. The jaw bones and tissues need time to adjust to the changes that braces make.. That is why you cannot fail to use retainers if you wish to maintain the alignment.
Retainers keep the teeth from shifting into the spaces that are left open when braces are taken off. Expert clinics are well aware of the importance of this. Manhattan experts at Smiles+Grins offer tips for individuals with dental braces, along with links to the best resources on dental retainers, to help make your orthodontic investment last a lifetime.
The First Signs of Skipping Retainer Wear
Orthodontic relapse first manifests itself in barely perceivable subtleties, but before any observable differences take place, the trouble has been brewing for weeks or months of non-compliance.
A retainer that feels a bit snugger when you put it back in indicates that your teeth have shifted slightly. New spaces can form between teeth, or previously free-flowing teeth that have been aligned may find themselves off (that is, become crowded by adjacent teeth again). For example, in teens, spacing can get off track, as seen on selfies, while adults will experience pain while chewing food.
As we look for more insidious clues, changes to your bite or teeth that no longer fit together can cause minor tenderness due to shifting pressure. A simple regular check-up will help catch these orthodontic relapse signs early
What a Year Without a Retainer Can Do
In fact, a whole year without your retainer exacerbates these problems, as you do tend to have a relatively large amount of relapse in which your teeth start to move back towards where they were before you had braces. Crowding or twisting of the teeth leads to aesthetic problems that can directly affect self-confidence and lead to social issues. Without retainers, teeth are subject to twisting, forming a bite, and a misaligned jaw.
If you don't wear a retainer after getting braces, it might make problems worse, such as overbites or underbites, which may require more orthodontic care. Studies show that the change in the teeth is apparent in the first year in 70% of cases.
Can You Fix It After a Year?
The silver lining is that all is not lost if alignment slips a year after treatment. However, the extent to which you can correct depends on the individual's age, severity of misalignment, and the amount of shift that has occurred.
Putting the retainer back in if it still fits can stop further movement for many. Still, most of the time, a new set of custom retainers or a brief series of clear aligners will be necessary to regain the original position of the teeth. In this case, partial braces or other appliances may be needed.
The best way to proceed is to have an orthodontic appointment to take X-rays and make impressions of the mouth to develop a personalized plan. While this may protect your orthodontic progress, it can cost you time and more money.. This is because the adage holds that prevention is better than a cure for families committed to sustained oral health.
Preventing Setbacks and Protecting Your Investment
Start by getting into the habit of using your retainer. Wear it full-time or as directed by the orthodontist.
This way, your dentist can track your progress and ensure that everything is on track and make adjustments if necessary. With that in mind, here are recommendations that offer you the incentive to continue it:
Set reminders on your phone or pre-bed routines that help you form the habit of wearing your retainer frequently.
Clean your retainers daily to ensure it is clean and safe for use. If you feel anything unusual, visit the orthodontist to have it checked.
Choose fixed retainers for forgetful teens.
Share practical steps that other family members can use to stay on track with the use of their retainers. Everyone can use a little help with keeping to the routine.
In conclusion
Using your retainer often after braces will usually keep all movement to a minimum.
Taking a year off from retainer wear can lead to visible movement, an overbite or underbite, and sometimes the need to re-correct the teeth. Seeing the orthodontic relapse signs early can save your smile. Be sure to reinforce great habits to help keep your smile for a long time.
And what about you with retainers? Any relapse issues? What about you? Feel free to comment below; I'd like to know how you've handled this in your healthy smile journey.
