What Happens if You Don’t Wear Your Retainer Regularly?
Published August 26, 2023Congratulations on completing your orthodontic treatment and achieving a beautifully aligned smile! Your dedication to wearing braces or aligners was an investment in your oral health. Now, to preserve these results, it’s crucial to consistently wear your retainer, if it’s removable.
At Pearls Orthodontics, we understand that it can be tempting to slack off on wearing your retainer regularly once your braces are removed. But, we want to emphasize the importance of consistent retainer wear. If your retainer breaks or is damaged, please contact us as soon as possible. There are a few different things that may happen if you don’t wear your retainer regularly:
Teeth May Shift Back
After orthodontic treatment, your teeth have been moved to their desired positions. However, teeth have a natural tendency to shift over time, especially during the first few months post-treatment. If you don’t wear your retainer as prescribed by Dr. Ortiz, there’s a high chance that your teeth may start to drift back to their original, misaligned positions. This may make wearing your retainer uncomfortable, tempting you to skip additional nights.
Relapse of Orthodontic Issues
Let’s say one missed night wearing your retainer snowballs into multiple missed nights. Failure to wear your retainer regularly can lead to a relapse of the orthodontic issues you worked so hard to correct. Whether you had crowding, gaps, or a misaligned bite, not wearing your retainer can undo the progress made during your orthodontic treatment.
Discomfort and Adjustments
Allowing your teeth to shift can result in discomfort and potential adjustments needed to realign them. This could mean additional visits to Dr. Ortiz and added inconvenience and cost. In some cases, patients may even need to undergo additional orthodontic treatment to correct the relapse.
Aesthetics and Confidence
A relapse of orthodontic issues can impact the aesthetics of your smile, affecting your confidence and self-esteem. Wearing your retainer regularly helps maintain your smile’s beauty. We want you to enjoy the results of your orthodontic journey for years to come.
If you’re unsure about the recommended retainer wear or encounter any issues with your retainer, don’t hesitate to contact our Pflugerville orthodontic office. We are here to provide guidance, support, and expert care to help you maintain the perfect smile you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Embrace the retainer phase of your orthodontic journey and keep your radiant smile intact for a lifetime!
Image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0
Categorised in: Retainers
