If you wore braces or clear aligners in the past, you probably remember those first few months and years after treatment well—your teeth looked and felt their best and remained perfectly straight for quite some time. However, things happen, and you might’ve started to notice them shifting back into their original and incorrect positions. You may be wondering if wearing your old retainer is a quick and easy fix for this issue, but the truth is, this probably won’t do much good. Here’s what you need to know.
What Are Retainers?
Retainers are helpful orthodontic appliances that are used to stabilize your teeth’s position, or “retain” them following orthodontic treatment. Once you’re done with your treatment plan, your teeth will naturally adjust due to the forces applied to them each day, like biting and chewing. Retainers simply prevent this from occurring in the months following orthodontic treatment, when your teeth are still a little more susceptible to movement.
Can Retainers Realign Teeth?
Over time, your teeth and bite pattern can change naturally, even if you’ve worn your retainer as instructed. Rather than going through another round of orthodontic treatment, you may be wondering if you can simply pop in your old retainer and let it handle the rest. Unfortunately, it’s not so simple.
Retainers do not apply the steady force over time that’s needed to make major changes to the position of your teeth, like metal braces or clear aligners; instead, they simply hold your teeth in place. It’s also very likely that if you haven’t worn your retainer for quite some time, it might not even fit. However, if it does fit, it’s possible that it can cause some very minor adjustments, but it’s unlikely to make a meaningful difference. That said, if wearing it causes pain or it doesn’t fit snugly, stop at once and contact your orthodontist. After a consultation, they’ll be able to determine what course of treatment is needed to correct any adjustments that have occurred.
Once your teeth are realigned, consistent retainer wear is the key to keeping them that way—so whether braces, clear aligners, or something else is needed, do right by your treatment plan and wear your retainer this time around to ensure your teeth stay where they need to be!
About the Practice
Our team here at Simply Orthodontics has served the needs of families in Worcester and the surrounding communities for several years, offering a wide range of orthodontic services for patients of all ages, including braces, clear aligners, and more. With Dr. Sam Alkhoury, Dr. Amir Tiam, and Dr. Jamie Moon leading the way, you can trust that your smile’s future is in expert hands. If you have any questions about the blog or you’d like to get in touch with our office to set up an appointment for you or a loved one, reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (508) 757-3173.
