Retainers
Protect Your Beautiful Smile!
Retainers keep teeth aligned properly and protect your investment in your beautiful smile.
Learn More about How Retainers Protect Your Smile
Retainers
Retainers are an essential part of straightening teeth. After orthodontic treatment, you wear retainers to help keep your teeth aligned because they tend to shift without retention.
Whether you choose traditional braces or clear aligners to straighten your teeth, we recommend you wear retainers for a lifetime every night while you sleep to preserve proper tooth alignment.
Types of Retainers for Your New Smile
If you have clear aligners, your last set of aligners may act as your retainers.
Dr. Ricafort may also recommend wearing a sturdier custom acrylic retainer at night. The benefit of an acrylic retainer is that it also acts as a night guard. While keeping your teeth aligned, your retainer will protect them against the wear and tear caused by nightly tooth grinding (bruxism). A sturdier retainer may also last longer and can be a wise investment in protecting your smile.
In some cases, Dr. Ricafort may recommend a “fixed” or glued-in retainer. A fixed retainer is typically a thin wire glued to the back of your teeth, and he often recommends it for the lower teeth. It can effectively keep teeth properly aligned and replace wearing a retainer at night.
When you complete your orthodontic treatment, Dr. Ricafort will review your retention options so you can select the type of retainer that best suits your lifestyle.
What If I Don't Wear a Retainer?
Because our teeth are always moving to some extent, they tend to want to shift back into their old positions. Many of our adult patients come to us for treatment after orthodontic treatment as an adolescent. If they didn’t wear their retainers as directed, their teeth may have gradually shifted, causing overlapped or crooked teeth.
Tooth shifting or movement can result in difficulties with brushing and flossing, making adults more susceptible to common dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Shifting can also result in bite misalignment, contributing to jaw joint (TMJ) problems or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD can be quite debilitating for some patients, with symptoms significantly impacting their quality of life.
Teeth that shift can also impact your smile’s appearance, causing dissatisfaction and resulting in the need for clear aligners or orthodontic treatment as an adult. Many patients choose orthodontic treatment to increase their confidence and self-esteem.
Consistently wearing a retainer after orthodontic treatment can help you avoid these problems. After all, once you straighten your teeth, you’ll want to protect your beautiful smile and the investment you made in it!
Contact Neighborhood Orthodontics for More Information
Do you have questions about retention or orthodontic treatment in Riverview, FL? We invite you to call us at (813) 379-2003 for more information on how we can help you achieve the straighter, more beautiful smile you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many patients are concerned about how wisdom teeth may impact their orthodontic treatment and question whether they should straighten their teeth as teens or after they have fully erupted.
We’re here to ease your mind about wisdom teeth!
The Truth about Wisdom Teeth
Because genetics plays a more significant role in tooth crowding, wisdom teeth don’t directly cause teeth to shift. You may remove wisdom teeth early and still experience tooth crowding because you may be more prone to it genetically.
It’s important to note that wisdom teeth may lead to other dental concerns, such as impaction or an increased risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. These issues can arise due to difficulties in adequately brushing and flossing. However, studies have shown that they’re not the primary cause of crowding.
Therefore, it’s ideal to complete orthodontic treatment during adolescence when growth patterns facilitate easier and more efficient tooth movement.
While most kids will start orthodontic treatment around age 12, we recommend they have their first ortho evaluation at age seven or eight to determine if they can benefit from early intervention.
Do You Have Questions about Orthodontic Treatment in Riverview?
If you have questions or concerns about how wisdom teeth may impact your orthodontic treatment, or you’d like to book an evaluation with Dr. Ricafort, contact Neighborhood Orthodontics at (813) 379-2003.
To preserve proper tooth alignment after orthodontic treatment, you must wear retainers at night while you sleep for a lifetime.
Teeth tend to want to return to their original position after orthodontic treatment, so retention is critical to preserve your newly straightened smile.
Retainers are designed for comfort and only need to be worn when you’re sleeping. As a bonus, some retainers act as night guards and protect your teeth from the wear or damage caused by nightly clenching and grinding (bruxism).
Different Types of Orthodontic Retainers
If you complete orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, Dr. Ricafort may recommend using your last set of aligners as final retainers.
Some patients need something more sturdy, so your Riverview, FL, orthodontist might recommend an acrylic retainer that covers your teeth more sufficiently and protects against nighttime wear and tear if you clench or grind your teeth.
What Happens If I Don’t Wear a Retainer?
Tooth shifting or movement can result in difficulties with brushing and flossing, making adults more susceptible to common dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease.
Teeth that shift may also cause dissatisfaction with the appearance of their smiles, resulting in the need for clear aligners or orthodontic treatment as an adult.
Consistent retainer wear after treatment can avoid this. After all, you’ll want to protect your beautiful smile and the investment you made in it!
