Why is a retainer needed? Do teeth move after orthodontic treatment?
Usually, when braces are first removed, your child’s teeth will all be in perfect alignment, but your child’s gums, bones, etc will not have completely shifted into their new positions. The retainer holds your child’s teeth in position until their gums, bones etc settle in to their new positions. Also, your child is still growing after your child’s braces are removed. Sometimes, your child’s mouth will grow unevenly. If so a retainer can be used to make sure the child’s teeth stay in perfect alignment as your child grows.
Usually, when braces are first removed, your child’s teeth will all be in perfect alignment, but your child’s gums, bones, etc. will not have completely shifted into their new positions. The retainer holds your child’s teeth in position until their gums, bones etc. settle in to their new positions. Also, your child is still growing after your child’s braces are removed. Sometimes, your child’s mouth will grow unevenly. If so a retainer can be used to make sure the child’s teeth stay in perfect alignment as your child grows.
Retainers are needed to hold teeth in their new positions until the supporting tissues of the teeth, the bone and gums surrounding the roots of the teeth, reorganize and stabilize. Bone must firm up around the roots of the teeth. The elastic fibers in the gum tissue must reorganize. The facial muscles, cheeks, lips, and tongue must adapt to the new tooth positions. Retainers are also needed to stabilize the positions of the teeth in the event the two jaws grow at different rates. Retainers are needed to insure that developing wisdom teeth or third molars do not force the side teeth forward and crowd the front teeth.
Usually, when braces are first removed, your or the teeth will all be in perfect alignment, but your childs gums, bones, etc. will not have completely shifted into their new positions. The retainer holds the teeth in position until their gums, bones, etc. settle into their new positions. Also, your child is still growing after their braces are removed. Sometimes, your childs mouth will grow unevenly. If so, a retainer can be used to make sure your childs teeth stay in perfect alignment as your child grows.
Usually, when braces are first removed, your child’s teeth will all be in perfect alignment, but his gums, bones, etc will not have completely shifted into their new positions. The retainer holds his teeth in position until his gums, bones etc settle in to their new positions. Also, he is still growing after his braces are removed. Sometimes, his mouth will grow unevenly. If so, a retainer can be used to make sure his teeth stay in perfect alignment as he grows.
