Retainers are custom-tailored orthodontic equipment, intended to retain teeth in their aligned position, achieved by braces or aligners that have been used. Generally, there are two main versions available. We also offer different types of aligners based on dental requirements & lifestyle. If you don’t wear a retainer, your already straightened teeth will start to move back to their previous position, wasting the efforts of orthodontic treatment for several months & even years.
Your orthodontist will prescribe how frequent and how long you will have to wear your retainers. For optimum results, you may be advised to wear them a few times per week for the rest of your life. Simply put, you must wear your retainers for as long as you want to keep your teeth straight.
The retainer is generally recommended to be worn full-time; however, the timeframe varies based on every individual case. Most cases required retainers to be worn almost every time for the initial 3 to 6 months after orthodontic treatment. After a while, they can be moved to wear their retainers only at night until further progress is noticed.
– However, sometimes a retainer might be required to stay on for many years, or even at night for life, to prevent any uninvited teeth from shifting.
– Firstly, you might feel milder tightness or uneasiness with retainers, as teeth adapt to being set in place. While this sensation or discomfort usually fades away in some days. In general, retainers are not painful or cause discomfort once the patient gets familiar with them. If you feel frequent pain or irritation, or you feel ill-fitting, it’s essential to visit your specialist for replacement or tightening.