Information for patients after treatment
We hope that you are satisfied with our cooperation and treatment results. This is not the end of our contacts yet. After a period of active treatment, stabilization of the teeth and jaw bones system is necessary to complete bone remodelling while maintaining the system obtained at the end of treatment. During retention (stabilization after treatment), the final fit of the teeth (settling) also occurs and the final distribution of forces in the masticatory organ is equalized. This is the period necessary to obtain stable treatment effects. Due to the importance of this period, it should be treated with the same care as active treatment.
Retention is one of the main problems in orthodontics. This is due to the fact that after the treatment is completed, stresses remain in the teeth , muscles and, above all, in the fiber system inside the jaw bones,which are beyond the control of the orthodontist. What should be done to protect the teeth system is to put on retainers (stabilizing appliances) and allow time to release the stress. For this reason, retention is necessary after each orthodontic treatment.
There are no specific guidelines as to the type of retainers and duration of retention. Retention appliances can be fixed (stuck to the teeth from the lingual side) or removable worn periodically as prescribed by a doctor. Two factors affect retention time. The first is the period needed to complete the bone remodelling, as described above. The second factor is the fact that the human body is rebuilding itself all the time. Unfortunately, tissue (including bone) remodelling does not occur uniformly. This means that the structure of all parts of the body also changes throughout life. Otherwise, your body would look the same all your life. The same mechanism also applies to the masticatory system. Because the function shapes the morphology, muscle tension that changes with age affects bone structure modification. This means that without retainer support, no one can guarantee a perfect tooth system throughout your life. The same mechanisms also apply to people who are not orthodontically treated, but in case of people who did not have perfect teeth, these changes may be "unobtrusive". Of course, this does not mean that the defect will reappear after removing the braces, but that very small tooth dislocations may occur. If the teeth system is in a functional balance after treatment, there is a good chance that it will remain stable. Unfortunately, there is no way to assess it 100% at the end of treatment.
We make every effort to ensure that all our treatments end not only with a very good aesthetic effect but also with a state of functional balance. However, there are also some restrictions resulting from bone structure, high severity of the defect, and paraphunction (incorrect activity), which may prevent such an ideal balance of power. Due to the inability to check the stability of the system and the unpredictability of age-related changes, most orthodontists believe that retainers must be used permanently throughout their lives. In my procedure, after a mandatory five years, I allow the possibility of removing retainers at the patient's request. The only conditions are the patient's responsible decision to remove the retainers and acknowledgement that the system may change over the course of a lifetime (risk 10-20%).
During the retention, our patients are obliged to follow the doctor's instructions. During the five years there are two mandatory retainer appointments (one year and three years after the braces are removed). In any case of noticing any changes in the position of the teeth or indicating damage to the retention devices, contact your doctor as soon as possible. The delay may result in changes that may be difficult to reverse or may involve additional (unnecessary) costs. Other financial issues related to the retention period are discussed in the "Investment in a beautiful smile" tab.