The Science Behind the Purpose of Retainers After Braces

One way to think of retainers is like a cast if you’ve ever had a broken arm. Your teeth have shifted into new spots. But the bone around them hasn’t fully hardened just yet. Your retainer will keep them locked in place while your body catches up with all the changes going on. 

Once your braces come off, your teeth aren’t actually permanently set in place yet. The bone is still soft and adjusting. Without something holding them steady in place, your teeth will drift right back to where they used to be. Even if you skip just a few weeks of wearing your retainer, you can undo months or even a year of progress.

Everyone’s situation is different. Dr. Mendieta will probably recommend that you wear your retainer full-time for several months after your braces come off. After that, many of his patients continue wearing their retainer only at night. Some people end up wearing a retainer at night for years. 

Retainers do the same job whether you’re 15 or 50, but adult retainers sometimes have to be worn for a longer period. That’s because adult bone is much denser. It just takes more time for everything to settle completely once the teeth have moved. Kids and teenagers heal faster.

Your teeth start moving. Sometimes it happens slowly. Maybe barely noticeable. But other times, you can see a complete change within a couple of months. If you go too long without wearing your retainer, you could end up needing braces all over again. That means another time investment and more money out of pocket.

Dr. Edgar Mendieta and his team can answer all of your questions and walk you through every single step. If you got started with SmileDirectClub, bring in your records from that, and we’ll give you a free consultation. Call the office at (614) 230-0374 today, and they’ll get you set up for your appointment at 3160 W Broad St, Columbus, Ohio 43204.