Retainers are worn to hold the teeth in their corrected position while the supporting bone firms up around the teeth. The upper removable retainer is worn full-time (24 hours a day except for mealtime and brushing) for eight weeks. If your retention stage is going smoothly, your retainer wear will be decreased after this initial eight weeks. A lower fixed (cemented) retainer holds the front teeth straight. In most cases, by age 21, any influences (growth, wisdom teeth, etc.) that might cause adverse changes are generally gone, but a retainer is the only way we can assure that the teeth will not move. Individual needs will dictate exactly how long the retainers will be worn.

Failure to wear retainers as prescribed (especially in the first year) will result in some slippage of the treated end results. Retainer wear is the only way to ensure that your orthodontic correction is held.