Can Orthodontic Patients' Teeth Move Months or Even Years After Not Using Their Retainer?
Posted on: 12 July 2017
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Orthodontic treatment can be so effective at creating beautiful smiles that some patients become overconfident. Instead of wearing their retainer as instructed by their orthodontist, they either don't wear it at all, or wear it so rarely that it barely makes a difference. Over months or years, this will cause teeth to shift back into their former undesirable positions. It is at this point that many patients will root out their dusty old retainer and wonder if it can still do the job it was designed for.
This depends on a number of factors.
Periodontal Ligaments Can Remember!
There is a very good reason that orthodontists recommend you wear your retainer for the rest of your life. The ligaments holding your teeth to your jawbone remember their former position. Once your braces come off then, those ligaments may gently but stubbornly push your teeth back into their former positions.
Bone Takes Time to Settle
After braces, the bone that holds your teeth in place needs 9-12 months to settle. However, even after this time has elapsed, you should still be wearing your retainer at least 3-5 times a week.
It May Still Be Possible to Wear Your Old Retainer
If it has been months or even years since you last wore your retainer, you likely sought it out because you noticed your teeth beginning to shift back to their former positions. That means when you try to place the retainer on you will likely experience a lot of resistance. You will also experience pain. This is because your teeth are no longer in the position achieved by your orthodontic treatment.
However, if your retainer still fits, albeit tightly, and you are willing to put up with the pain, your retainer can still do the job it was created for. Eventually, as the retainer coaxes your teeth back into their ideal positioning, the tightness and pain will subside. At this point, make a promise to never stop wearing your retainer again. If you are not so lucky and your retainer won't fit any longer, you will need to go back to your orthodontist to either get a new one, or start a course of Invisalign Express, or something similar.
No matter how effective orthodontic treatment is, unless you are one of the very lucky few, your teeth will shift back over time if you don't use your retainer. When this happens, you better be prepared for some pain when trying to re-retain using the same set of retainers.