After Treatment

AFTER YOUR BRACES

ACTIVE RETENTION (Final Settling and Healing)

  • Fixed Appliance Removal

When fixed appliances are removed, you will enter a period of active retention treatment.During active retention final position of the teeth is achieved through settling. Spaces are closed where possible, roots solidify in bone sockets, and a final bite relationship is achieved.

  • Full time wear of retainers is necessary during this period because the teeth are mobile and need to recover from orthodontic tooth movement. It is imperative that retainers be worn full time as the teeth may relapse to their original position.
  • Retainer Instruction Sheet – please read and remember that retainers are always IN THE MOUTH, IN THE HAND or IN THE BOX – never any other place. Keep them away from heat and pets. During the first few months of active retention, retainers are worn full time. If it is necessary to remove the retainer from the mouth, be certain that it is IN THE HAND or IN THE BOX, never in a pocket, in a napkin, on the dresser or next to the sink. It will very easily be broken/lost and there will be a fee to replace it.

FINAL RECORDS

Final records will be taken to evaluate the final dental and skeletal conditions, wisdom teeth, etc. Records include x-rays and photographs.

RECALL AND PASSIVE RETENTION

When active retention is completed, you will be placed on recall, during which time retainers will be worn on a maintenance basis. Retainers should be tried in every day indefinitely, and worn when they feel tight.

         There is a tendency for patients to consider their case completed during recall. This is not so!Issues such as completion of growth, decisions on third molars (wisdom teeth) and completion of dental procedures will be monitored during this period. Control of orthodontic results depends on appropriate long term retention measures. You will be asked to call for or given a recall appointment. If you do not respond to our notification,we may place your file on an inactive status and wait to hear from you.

REMEMBER

Active retention means retainer wear full time and:

IN THE MOUTH, IN THE HAND or IN THE BOX!

Recall means maintenance wear on a try in basis, training forward and proper follow up. Our bodies continue to change indefinitely.   Follow these rules and you will be a VERY HAPPY orthodontic patient!

 

wrap retainer    bonded lingual

Removable Upper Retainer                        Bonded Lower Retainer