5 years
The belief was that when teeth were aligned and stable, and retainers have been worn for a few years, they would stay this way for life without continued wear of their retainers. Fast forward 5, 10, 20… years later, and many adults notice that their teeth are starting to shift and are crowding again. After this, retainers should continue to be worn (for life!), but how often is unique for each person. Most people can keep their teeth aligned wearing them several nights a week, while others may need to wear them every night (these people may prefer bonded retainers). Do I have to Wear Them All the Time? Your orthodontist will prescribe the retention plan that is best for you. Some retainers are used full-time for the first 6 months; after that, the retainers are worn only at night, for a few years. Other retainers are worn full-time for about a week, and solely at night thereafter. Fixed retainers are normally kept in place for 5 years. If you have a fixed retainer, you should spend more time to brush the back of your teeth. You have to brush all around the wire so that calculus will not form. You will be instructed on how to use dental floss with a floss-threader. Do remember not to use your front teeth to for biting hard foods or objects. Typically, you can estimate how long you need to wear a retainer based on however long your teeth were in braces, according to National Dental Centre Singapore. This does not mean you have to wear them all day; you can typically wear the retainer only at night three to six months after your braces come off. Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images. Depends On Your Condition. How long you need to wear a retainer varies by case, according to Kids Health. Some people may need a retainer for a year to three years to keep teeth from shifting or to close a gap. You may even need a retainer for the rest of your life if you have certain conditions, like teeth grinding · just now. Report Abuse. I had braces seven years ago and when they were removed my ortho explained the same thing to me and you really do have to wear it 24 hours a day at least for the first 12 months.... I've had my retainer for two years and still wear it at night. I had prob wearing it only 10-12 hrs a day for me when I got them off. However, takes longer for them to set so prepare to wear them for longer than the year or two your Dr asks you to. tamrn02 · 8 years ago. For how long do I need to wear retainers? It takes time for the bone and all the tissues around your teeth to reorganise and therefore it is necessary to use retainers until your bite stabilises. In the first month after the braces are removed, the risk of relapse is very high. If you have a fixed retainer, you should spend more time to brush the back of your teeth. You have to brush all around the wire so that calculus will not form. You will be instructed on how to use dental floss with a floss-threader. Do remember not to use your front teeth to for biting hard foods or objects. This is often a huge relief to patients who expect that they will have to wear retainers 24/7 after their braces are removed! There are several choices of retainers that I match to patient’s lifestyles and preferences. After this, retainers should continue to be worn (for life!), but how often is unique for each person. Most people can keep their teeth aligned wearing them several nights a week, while others may need to wear them every night (these people may prefer bonded retainers). The clear plastic ones look nicer, but will tend to wear out faster, and will need replaced periodically. You should bring these appliances with you to your regular dental checkups. This type of retainer is generally worn full time for at least 6 months and during the night for up to several years thereafter. A fixed wire bonded at the back of your front teeth: The fixed retainer is generally kept in place for at least 5 years, but we recommend lifelong wear. Removable retainers should be taken out during eating, high contact sports and when you brush your teeth. To clean the retainers, remove them first and brush them in tap water using a toothbrush and some toothpaste After braces are removed, most patients will need to wear a retainer all the time for the first six months, then only during sleep for many years.  After 12 months of continuous retainer wear, we often recommend that you to continue to wear your retainers at night 3-5 times a week for life. The reason we recommend this cycle of wear is due to the slow shifting of teeth forward and inward as we get older. Dr. Donna says. Yes you can wear your retainers during the day and then skip them at night. We recommend at least 8-10 hours a day whether you do this awake or when sleeping. You can go to 5 days a week if you have been out of braces for sometime.
http://meadowsorthodontics.com/long-need-wear-retainers/ http://www.ndcs.com.sg/ForPatientsAndVisitors/ConditionsAndTreatments/Glossary/Pages/Orthodontics-AfterBracesAlwaysRetainers.aspx http://www.ehow.com/decision_7228772_long-wear-retainer-after-braces_.html https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080331215026AA5b3UU http://www.ndcs.com.sg/ForPatientsAndVisitors/ConditionsAndTreatments/Glossary/Pages/Orthodontics-AfterBracesAlwaysRetainers.aspx http://meadowsorthodontics.com/long-need-wear-retainers/ http://benchmarkdentalcare.com/q-need-wear-retainer-braces/ http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/braces-and-retainers?page=2 http://www.luvmysmile.com/why-do-i-have-to-wear-retainers-forever/
how many years do i need to wear my retainer