Retainers

Have you recently had your braces removed? Are you excited because you no longer have to deal with Invisalign trays? If so, you need to ensure that all that hard work sticks. Zitterkopf | Gaworski Orthodontics & Falcon Orthodontics provide comprehensive orthodontic services to everyone who walks through our doors. Once we have moved your teeth into the right location, you need to keep them there, which is where retainers can help you. Learn more about the importance of retainers below, and give us a call today if you have questions about your retainer.

Why Would My Teeth Move Back?

You have worked hard taking care of your braces or Invisalign trays. Why would your teeth ever move back into place? There is a reason your teeth started in their natural location, and they will always have a propensity to move back to that spot. Therefore, once you stop applying pressure to your teeth, they may move back into their original crowded, overlapping, or gapped position.

We need to prevent this from happening, which is where retainers can benefit. You do not want to wear braces or Invisalign trays for the rest of your life, and you don’t have to. With a retainer, you can keep your teeth in the right location without wearing it 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. 

How Do Retainers Help Me?

The good news is that retainers work in the very same fashion as Invisalign trays or braces. Retainers will exert a slight amount of pressure to prevent your teeth from moving out of position. Retainers do not exert as much pressure as braces or Invisalign trays because we do not need to move your teeth anymore — we simply need to keep them where they are.

When you put your retainer in at night, you may initially feel a slight pressure. That is a sign that your teeth have moved out of place ever-so-slightly. When you wear your retainer overnight, you will gradually move your teeth back to the right location, so your retainer may not feel as tight when you wake up in the morning. 

How Long Must I Wear a Retainer?

There are a lot of people who are wondering how long they have to wear their retainer. In general, you will have to wear your retainer for the rest of your life. We will talk with you when you come to our office, and everything will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The good news is that you do not necessarily need to wear your retainer during the day, and you don’t necessarily need to wear it every night.

Remember that the longer you go without your retainer, the tighter it will be when you put it back in your mouth. If you go for too long without wearing your retainer, your retainer may not fit anymore. If that is the case, we will need to talk about other treatment options. Furthermore, if you lose your retainer, we encourage you to reach out to us as quickly as possible. We need to get it replaced before your teeth move too far. 

Call Zitterkopf | Gaworski Orthodontics & Falcon Orthodontics To Make an Appointment

At Zitterkopf | Gaworski Orthodontics & Falcon Orthodontics, we have worked hard to expand our services. It is our goal to take care of all your treatment needs, and we want to ensure that your hard work does not come undone. Give us a call today at 719-596-2477 to schedule an appointment with a member of our team, and let us help you protect your smile with a retainer.