Now that you’ve bid farewell to braces or aligners, (Yea!!) it’s time to embark on the next phase of your smile’s journey: wearing a retainer. As Dr. Matza states: “Retainers are an essential part of orthodontic treatment as they help maintain the new alignment of the teeth after braces are removed  — that together we have worked hard to achieve! Without retainers, the teeth tend to gradually shift back — and further, consistency in wearing retainers is key to achieving long-term success with your new smile.” While you may be excited about your newly aligned teeth, or your child’s, you might also have questions about how long you’ll need to wear your retainer to maintain those stunning results. So, let’s address the common query: ‘How long do you have to wear a retainer?’ 

After you or your child gets your braces off, the grand reveal is one of life’s super sweet moments. The perfectly straight teeth. The dazzling smile. Life is brilliant! However, once the primary orthodontia ends, know that you’ll need to replace your braces with another piece of dental hardware – a retainer. By wearing a retainer, you’ll help keep your teeth straight and your smile dazzling.

But how long must you wear a retainer? By learning more about the necessity of a retainer post-braces, you’ll better understand the various factors that determine the length of time you’ll need to sport a retainer.

Braces and Retainers: How They Work Together

Braces are necessary to correct a variety of conditions, including:

• A bad bite – also known as a malocclusion – can be an overbite or an underbite
• Crooked, crowded, spaced-out, or protruding teeth
• Jaws that don’t line up correctly
• Misalignment at any point in your mouth

The type of braces you’ll get typically reflects how much movement your teeth need to straighten and align perfectly. The time you need to wear braces depends on how much correction your teeth and mouth require, but it’s usually two to three years.

Removing your braces after a couple or more years is certainly a reason to smile, but to retain that smile, your retainer needs to be your best friend. A retainer is a custom-made dental appliance designed to keep teeth in place after braces finally come off. It allows your newly aligned teeth time to settle into the soft tissue and jawbone that houses them. Otherwise, your teeth will naturally try to shift over time.

By not wearing a retainer after braces, you could potentially undo all the beautiful work your braces put into correcting your dental issues. Not to mention that you’ll have wasted all the time and costs that went into your braces. So, a retainer is an essential part of teeth straightening and alignment.

Retainer Types and Length of Time for Wearing Them

Depending on your dental situation, you might receive a removable and fixed retainer. Or your orthodontist might recommend both – one on your upper teeth and the other on your bottom teeth. Whichever one you sport, your orthodontist will prescribe when and how long you must wear the retainer for optimum results, notes the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO).

Removable Retainer: You’ll typically wear this retainer full-time for six months to a year after braces, only removing it when you’re eating or brushing your teeth. After your prescribed period of time, your orthodontist will determine if you need to wear your retainer longer.

Even if your orthodontist detects no tooth movement following the time you wear your retainer, they might recommend keeping your retainer on only during the night for further assurance your straightened teeth are stable. This could be for a few months or years more – or, depending on your teeth, indefinitely.

Fixed Retainer: With a fixed retainer, you don’t have to keep track of it or remember to put it in after eating or brushing. Bonded to your teeth in an unobtrusive spot – usually the back of your teeth – you might need to wear this retainer longer, perhaps years.

Because you can’t remove a fixed retainer when eating, there’s a chance that periodontal issues might arise without strict oral health measures. However, there’s a greater chance of retaining all the benefits your braces provide because it’s constantly keeping your teeth stable. It is important to notify Dr. Matza’s office if the bonding [glue] to the fixed retainer becomes loose as this can enable teeth to shift and require more treatment to align. This is why an overlay retainer is made at our office.

Caring for Your Retainer

Because you must wear your retainer exactly as your orthodontist prescribes, the AAO has some retainer maintenance suggestions. Keeping your retainer in good shape will help it do its job – keep your teeth straight and in alignment – so you don’t have to wear it any longer than necessary.

For removable retainers:

• Put your retainer in its case only when it’s not in your mouth. And always keep your retainer case with you.
• Keep your retainer away from heat and pets.
• Follow your orthodontist’s prescribed cleaning method, which might involve brushing your retainer or soaking it in a denture-cleaning product.
• Drink only water when you wear your retainer, as other beverages can get caught between the retainer and your teeth, leading to decay.

For fixed retainers: Brush and floss diligently, perhaps using an interproximal toothbrush to remove the plaque and tartar prone to build up around fixed retainers.

Every retainer situation is different. The length of time you need to wear a retainer depends on factors that led you to wear braces in the first place, the type of retainer you wear, and how well you maintain it. Know that wearing a retainer is much easier than wearing braces and allows you to retain your perfect teeth and smile.

Unlock the secret to a lifetime of confident smiles! Explore all the ins and outs of retainer care and retention with our experienced orthodontist, Dr. Matza. Schedule a consultation today at 561.368.3480. Check our IG @matzaorthodontics or our website MatzaOrthodontics.com to learn more.