...everything you need to know about orthodontics.
Once the treatment is finished... whats next?
Retention...
Keep that smile
HURRAY!!!
Finally the Braces are gone! No more appointments! No more ties! You have finished! At least free, right?
Well, almost.What we call ACTIVETREATMENT has finished. But there is a crucial phase called Retention. This final phase of your treatment adds the final touches that help to make sure your beautiful smile last a lifetime.
Your orthodontics retainers are designed to keep your teeth in the right position until your bones and gums adapt to that change. You will have to keep using your retainers exactly as your dentist told you. Otherwise, your teeth could move returning little by little to their original position and the benefits you had thanks to the Braces will be reduced.
The retention process takes time, so be patient. But not everything is bad, since the use of retainers is simplier an more comfortable than the treatment with Braces. Your dentist will tell you how long you need to use the retainers. The time varies in each person depending on the kind of bite that was fixed. Some special cases will have tu use fixed retainers.
It depends on you. The work of the dentist is done, and so is his responsability on your teeth. So from now on it all depends on you. It is in your hand to keep that beautiful smile for ever, following the retention instructions.
Take care of your retainers since they are very important to your oral health and to your new smile. You must follow the next 3 recommendations:
USE THEM!
This means in your mouth, not in your bag or in their box. Retainers are effective only if you follow consciously your dentist's instructions.
KEEP THEM CLEAN!
Brush them every day with your toothbrush and conventional paste directly and water them.
HANDLE THEM WITH CARE!
Be careful when handling, specially at the moment of placing and removing. Try no to force them too much and do it little by little. When they are not in you mouth, keep them on the box to prevent accidents: falling, breaking or missing. And keep them in a safe place out of reach of children and pets.
Remember, replacing the retainers is expensive.
You have made a big effort so far. It was not easy, but you did it. Now, do not lose what you and your dentist have obtained on your teeth. Do not forget, your teeth need time to adapt themselves to their new position. Give them that time
Your reward will be a lifetime with a beautiful and healthy smile.