When it comes to correcting your bite issues with braces, there are several steps to go through. The first one is to meet with your local dentist for him or her to assess your smile and determine how complex of a treatment process you need. Then, you’ll be fitted and will wear your braces for the duration of the time deemed necessary by your orthodontic specialist. Once they come off, the process still isn’t over, though. What are the steps for after braces care? As you read on, your dentist provides the answers.
What Happens After Your Braces are Removed?
What takes place after your braces are removed is just as vital as the process to correct your bite. That’s because the underlying bone will not have permanently formed around the new location of your teeth. Thus, you’ll need help to maintain the results you’ve so patiently waited on.
This is done with retainers, which come in two forms:
- Fixed Retainers – This type of retainer is usually made as a thin wire that’s worn across the back of the lower or upper teeth. They are bonded using a cement that’s like the kind used to affix the brackets of your braces.
- Removable Retainers – The other type your dentist may recommend is the removable retainer. It consists of a wire going across the front of the lower or upper teeth held in place with a combination of acrylic material and hooks that insert at the back of your teeth.
How to Care for Retainers
Another very important part of the process of correcting your bite is the maintenance of your retainers which involves visiting your dentist. He or she is an asset that you should take advantage of by maintaining regular visits. While there, a professional will check for cavities and will perform a thorough cleaning. The trained hygienist will also inspect in and around the area where the retainers attach to ensure that you’ll have beautiful and healthy teeth after the process is done.
You should also have a strategy for cleaning retainers. You can use the following methods:
- A mixture of vinegar and water
- Denture cleaning tablets
- A mouth sore rinse
What if I Don’t Want to Wear Retainers?
Failure to wear your retainers will negate all the benefits you received from wearing your braces and will leave your teeth in a state of flux. To fight the chances of any relapse, you’ll need to wear your retainers for around a year, but your dentist will make the final decision based on your specific needs.
To learn more about how your local dentist can help you get the smile of your dreams, reach out to schedule an appointment today!
About the Author
Dr. Deborah Romack earned her dental degree from Baylor College of Dentistry and has gone on to provide the Weatherford community with expert and compassionate care for the last two decades. To broaden her knowledge, she has also taken over 1,000 hours of continuing education. One of her favorite aspects of dentistry is orthodontics and helping patients achieve their dream smiles. Dr. Romack practices at Cosmetic & Family Dentistry and can be reached for more information through her website.