Many patients minimize the importance of wearing their retainers after their braces come off, but retention is one of the most critical post-care practices. Good retention practices are recommended to keep your teeth in alignment. If you do not wear your retainer after treatment, your teeth can move out of alignment and undo all of the progress you made during treatment.

Usually, a retainer is made of plastic and metal and is custom-designed for each child or adult to wear once his/her braces are removed. Since teeth are not set rigidly in the jawbone(s), they will start to move and shift as soon as your braces are removed without retention. The goal of the orthodontic retention plan is to minimize changes after the braces come off.

You will have to care for your retainers just like you cared for other appliances in your mouth. Most retainers are removable so you will have to keep track of them, as well. Retention will be most effective if you follow your orthodontist’s recommendations on the wear and care of your retainers.