After working through your entire series of Invisalign aligners, it’s finally time to fully enjoy your new and improved smile! To preserve your hard-earned results, your orthodontist reminds you of the importance of consistently wearing your retainer. You promise you will (with the best intentions!), but over time you become more and more lenient about it, until one day you can’t even remember the last time you wore them. Sound familiar? If so, here’s everything you need to know about orthodontic relapse.
Common Causes of Orthodontic Relapse
Orthodontic relapse, which is a term that refers to your teeth shifting into their previous position following your treatment with braces, is more common than you might think. Typically, it is due to neglecting to wear your retainer. Other common culprits include teeth grinding, genetics, and tooth loss. The good news is that regardless of the cause, there is a solution.
How Orthodontic Relapse Is Treated
If your teeth are beginning to move out of their properly aligned position, do your best not to panic! Instead, get in touch with your dental team right away. If the shifting is minor, they may recommend going back to wearing your retainer for 22 hours a day or getting a new one. If the changes are more severe, however, then re-treatment may be necessary. Don’t worry – correcting a relapse doesn’t take nearly as long as your initial treatment if addressed early on.
What You Should Do If You Lose Your Retainer
Oftentimes, patients who lose their retainer hesitate to reach out for help because they are fearful of the judgment that may follow. However, it is important to remember that your dental team is only interested in helping you achieve the happy, healthy smile you deserve, not giving lectures. Therefore, the moment you realize they are missing, you should get in touch with your orthodontist. From there, they can get to work on getting you a replacement one. That way, the repercussions on your smile are as minimal as possible.
If you are experiencing orthodontic relapse, don’t be discouraged. Instead, get in touch with your orthodontist right away so they can get to work on straightening your teeth again!
About the Practice
Our team at Simply Orthodontics focuses on quality dentistry, meticulous orthodontics, and top-notch service for one important reason: we believe you deserve nothing less. Whether you are considering braces for the first time or are interested in getting Invisalign again to address orthodontic relapse, your smile is in the best of hands here. To learn more about our comprehensive array of treatment options or to schedule an appointment, don’t hesitate to visit our website or give us a call at 508-429-7800.