Many people stop wearing their retainer because they feel it's a hassle to clean and maintain every day.
When you stop wearing retainers consistently, the teeth will slowly shift and move into different positions. This means that formerly crowded teeth will become crowded and crooked again. Teeth that had spaces between then will revert to gaps opening back up.
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.
How Long Does It Take to Shift? How much your teeth shift without a retainer will depend on a number of factors, including genetics and the type of orthodontic problem you had before treatment. Generally, a few days or even a week will not allow for severe teeth shifting.
By the time retainer users reached 19 to 24 months, 19 percent were not wearing retainers but 81 percent were -- even if it was only one night a week. About 4 percent never wore their retainer at all.
On average, removable retainers tend to last for about 5-10 years, while permanent retainers can potentially last for decades. The lifespan of retainers also depends on the following factors: The amount of stress. The metal wire is put under pressure while chewing.
After 12 months of continuous retainer wear, we often recommend that you to continue to wear your retainers at night 3-5 times a week for life. The reason we recommend this cycle of wear is due to the slow shifting of teeth forward and inward as we get older.
It's natural for teeth to want to move back to where they were. Even if you wore braces for three years, your teeth have a long memory. Teeth movement can happen soon after braces, or take many years to occur. Teeth shift as part of the aging process.
If a long time has passed since you've worn your retainer, the retainer has been damaged in any way, or it has to be forced into fitting your mouth, do not wear your old retainer. Doing so can result in a number of serious problems, including tooth and gum damage, pain, a stuck or broken retainer, or even infection.
Your retainers will need to be worn less now. Skipping a few nights here and there isn't a big deal, and wearing them every other night is a good rule of thumb.
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.
In most cases, it's normal for a newly fitted retainer to feel tight and cause discomfort in the first few days. However, if discomfort continues after wearing the retainer for several days, you should reach out to your orthodontist for an adjustment.
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.
Your retainers will help prevent this from happening as you age. To maintain a straight smile for a lifetime, you're going to need to wear your retainers nightly for the rest of your life. The good news is, after some time it won't be necessary to wear them as often.
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.
While a retainer is an important tool, it can sometimes feel rather tight or uncomfortable, leaving patients wondering if there's something wrong. Wearing a retainer for the first time can take some adjusting, and it's not unusual to feel some uncertainty when you're first fitted for one.
If you stop wearing your retainer, will your teeth move back? The answer is yes. Slowly, your teeth will move and shift back into the positions they were in before you went through orthodontic treatment.
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.
While it's true that nearly 1 in 5 orthodontic patients can be subject to some relapse after the three-year mark, it's not impossible for teeth shifting and relapse to occur earlier.
A too-tight retainer can damage your teeth and the surrounding gums. The retainer also could become stuck, which would constitute a dental emergency for which you would need immediate care. A retainer that is too loose won't damage the teeth like forcing in a tight retainer can.
The average orthodontic treatment plan is anywhere from 18 months to three years. It's different for everyone, but anything beyond a four-year treatment plan warrants getting second, third and fourth opinions.
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.
81% of patients, however, were still wearing their retainers, even if it was only one night a week.
Ultimately, your retainers are made to keep your teeth in place, not to move them, but they may be able to slightly shift your teeth back in the right circumstances. If it has been too long and your old retainer no longer fits snugly, you should contact your dentist in order to come up with a solution.