Crooked, spaced-out, and otherwise misaligned teeth don’t just negatively affect the appearance of your smile, they take a toll on your oral health as well. Fortunately, modern orthodontics offers a variety of treatment options, from traditional braces to Invisalign, ensuring every patient has the opportunity to enjoy a straight, healthy, beautiful smile. Unfortunately, if you don’t implement the right best practices afterward, you can experience a phenomenon called orthodontic relapse. Keep reading to learn what it is and how to prevent it!
What Is Orthodontic Relapse?
To guide your teeth into their properly aligned positions, metal brackets or clear aligners place just enough pressure on your teeth to safely move them. Orthodontic relapse refers to the phenomenon of the teeth moving back into their previous position after treatment. Some studies show that upwards of 50% of patients experience short-term or long-term orthodontic relapse, which means the investment in braces was a waste of time and money. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help prevent it from happening to you!
How to Prevent Orthodontic Relapse
Although orthodontic relapse is relatively common, it’s largely preventable with the right best practices in place. Priority number one? Wearing your retainer. Previously, it was believed that wearing it consistently for the year following your treatment would suffice in preventing orthodontic relapse. However, orthodontists have since changed their approach. As a result, patients are expected to wear it for 22 hours a day for the first six months. After that, they can transition to wearing it for 3-4 days a week before wearing it solely at night. For the best chances of keeping your teeth in their perfectly straight positions, you should plan on wearing your retainer indefinitely.
Orthodontic Relapse Treatment Options
Have you had braces before, but your teeth have since shifted out of position? Don’t fret – having a beautifully straight smile again is still a possibility! If the movement is minor, your orthodontist will monitor your teeth and encourage you to wear your retainer as much as possible (when you’re not eating or completing your oral hygiene routine, that is). If the relapse is more extensive, then getting braces again may be the best option. The good news is that it shouldn’t take as long as the first time. Plus, you may be eligible for more discreet alternatives, like Invisalign!
Seeing your hard-earned results fade before your eyes is discouraging, which is why it’s of the utmost importance that you do your part to avoid orthodontic relapse. If your teeth do begin to shift out of place, then get in touch with your orthodontist right away!
About the Practice
At Simply Orthodontics – Hopkinton, we are proud to offer our patients a wide array of teeth-straightening services, from traditional braces to Invisalign. If you’ve had braces before but have since experienced orthodontic relapse, then it’s time to visit our two exceptional orthodontists, Dr. Sam Alkhoury and Dr. Alan Carlotto. With their extensive training and thorough understanding of how teeth move, they can craft a custom treatment plan to perfect your smile once more. To learn more about treating orthodontic relapse, get in touch with our team via our website or by phone at 508-435-1200.