Orthodontics question

[Caffeinated]

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I hope you don't mind me peeking in on your forum here to ask an orthodontics question. How long after someone wears braces should a person need a retainer? Is this an indefinite thing, or should be worn for a specific period of time and then tapered or discontinued? If retainers are temporary, how do you determine appropriate length of treament? Is it a clinical decision based upon each patient's presentation, a fixed time period, or is it related to the length of time the patient had braces? I have heard conflicting opinions on this, and I was wondering what the convention wisdom taught in dental schools.

 

[Jediwendell]

I hope you don't mind me peeking in on your forum here to ask an orthodontics question. How long after someone wears braces should a person need a retainer? Is this an indefinite thing, or should be worn for a specific period of time and then tapered or discontinued? If retainers are temporary, how do you determine appropriate length of treament? Is it a clinical decision based upon each patient's presentation, a fixed time period, or is it related to the length of time the patient had braces? I have heard conflicting opinions on this, and I was wondering what the convention wisdom taught in dental schools.

If you want to keep your teeth straight you need to wear the retainers as long as you are on this side of the grass. You start 24 hours for around 3mos to a year, then go to nights only, then eventually a couple of times/week.

 

[syn_apse]

you should only wear your retainer for as long as you want straight teeth

 

[aphistis]

I hope you don't mind me peeking in on your forum here to ask an orthodontics question. How long after someone wears braces should a person need a retainer? Is this an indefinite thing, or should be worn for a specific period of time and then tapered or discontinued? If retainers are temporary, how do you determine appropriate length of treament? Is it a clinical decision based upon each patient's presentation, a fixed time period, or is it related to the length of time the patient had braces? I have heard conflicting opinions on this, and I was wondering what the convention wisdom taught in dental schools.

You should do what your orthodontist tells you and not fish for advice on a student message board. 🙂