In short, the answer is yes. Previously, patients were told they only had to wear the retainer for a year or two, but advancements in the field of orthodontics have proven that optimal results rest heavily on lifelong wear. Naturally, you won't have to wear it 24/7 for the decades to come.
Because teeth shift naturally and may move because of other factors, you'll have to wear your retainer part-time indefinitely to protect your corrected bite and smile. Some people will have to wear a retainer for at least 10 years. Many orthodontists recommend wearing the retainer part-time for the rest of your life.
You'll need to wear your retainer for the rest of your life when you have your teeth straightening treatment ends. There are different phases to wearing your retainers.
Retainers are designed to keep your teeth in place, so going without wearing it for a long period of time may cause some issues. It's fine to miss a day or two, but if you go without it much longer than that, your teeth will start to shift.
In an ideal world, you would wear your retainers for the rest of your life, but we understand that you want to give your mouth a break. After the first year of wearing retainers, you will only need to wear your retainer for a few nights a week to ensure your teeth stay in place.
Following treatment, it is recommended that you wear a retainer so that your teeth can be kept in their new places while the rest of your mouth heals. In many instances, you will need to wear a retainer for the rest of your life at least a few times per week in order to keep your teeth in their proper position.
In one way or another, avoiding using the retainer accurately can result in relapse, where your teeth start to shift back to where they were originally. Another reason why you might require orthodontic treatment again is because of unexpected growth.
For most orthodontic treatment, a majority of orthodontists recommend wearing a retainer for at least 10 years after you get your braces off or finish your aligner treatment. It's perfectly normal for many people to wear their retainers for the rest of their lives.
After about a week or so, it may be difficult to get your retainer to fit back into your mouth. If you do not wear your retainer for a long period of time, your teeth may end up reverting back to their initial positions.
While there's no set time limit on permanent retainers, and some have lasted upward of 20 years, most will need to be removed or replaced after a few years. Having a fixed retainer removed is generally affordable (around $150 or less without replacement), and the procedure is relatively easy.
The first consequence of not wearing your retainer after orthodontic treatment is that your teeth may shift back to their original positions. You spent months or even years getting orthodontic treatment, only to watch the results fade.
A few months or years: Don't even attempt to wear an old retainer if it's been several months or years! It's very unlikely to fit, and it could become stuck, cause pain, and even potentially damage your teeth and tissues. Instead, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist and take your old retainer with you.
Plus, orthodontics can align your jaw position, aiding speaking, chewing, and daily life. 2. We can tell if you haven't been wearing your retainer or Invisalign®trays. Your smile can shift out of place over time, so if you are not wearing your retainer as instructed, your orthodontist will know.
Fast. If you lose your retainer or just stop wearing it, your teeth can begin to shift back to their natural position in as little as two weeks.
In general, it can take years for teeth to shift significantly, though teeth can start moving slowly back into their old positions after only a few weeks or months.
That's because your teeth have shifted out of position. While the retainer shouldn't rip your teeth out of your gums, it could cause them to become loose. That's due to the pressure they put on the teeth. Aside from that, after years of not wearing your retainer, it probably isn't in the best shape.
Crowding & Shifting
This is the main reason most patients need braces again. People forget to wear the retainer or it can get lost or broken. If it isn't replaced promptly, before long teeth have shifted and the retainer doesn't fit anymore.
If everything's in tip-top condition, there's nothing to stop you from wearing braces two or even three times. Although done properly, once should be enough!
Proven research indicates that patients who do not wear their retainer after having braces removed are at risk of having their teeth move and shift.
Normal Flexibility
Natural teeth are intended to have a little wiggle room. Teeth are secured not directly into the bone, but with a tough but flexible ligament. This ligament allows the tooth to wiggle just a little bit.
Teeth movement can happen soon after braces, or take many years to occur. Teeth shift as part of the aging process. They move to the front of the mouth, particularly those on the bottom arch, which can cause crowding, wear and aesthetic problems.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by age 50, most Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth. So while permanent tooth loss can occur at any age as an adult, significant averages in partial and total tooth loss tend to occur in people aged 50 years old and above.
If you force it into place, it could become stuck, damage your teeth, and cause problems for your roots and jaw. Instead, make an appointment with an orthodontist. They may be able to adjust your old retainer, or you may need to get a new one altogether.