The question always comes up…Doctor how long do I need to wear my retainers? The correct answer is forever. Really Doctor? Yes it is true! A very large research study was done by the University of Washington in the early 90’s. They looked at all the treated Orthodontic cases in the clinic, thousands of patients. They wanted to see how well the teeth stayed straight after the braces were removed. Their findings are the basis of our current retention protocol.
They discovered that the patients that had the straightest teeth also had retainers that they were consistently wearing. That was the number one reason for their straight teeth…continued and consistent retainer wear. It did not matter whether you had third molars removed, or other teeth removed. Some of the patients only wore their retainers 1 time a week and had very straight teeth. Others found that they needed 2 to 3 times a week of wearing their retainers to keep their teeth straight.
Bottom line…retainers are a very important part of the success in keeping your smile as beautiful and your teeth as straight as possible for your lifetime. Please feel free to ask any of our staff or our Doctors about the importance of retainers! Luv My Smile, realizes the importance of retainers for a lifetime of perfect smiles and we offer a very affordable insurance program for all patients who need retainers replaced due to loss or breakage. Feel free to contact our offices for more information.
The Importance of Lifetime Retainer Wear
The question always comes up…Doctor how long do I need to wear my retainers? The correct answer is forever. Really Doctor? Yes it is true! A very large research study was done by the University of Washington in the early 90’s. They looked at all the treated Orthodontic cases in the clinic, thousands of patients. They wanted to see how well the teeth stayed straight after the braces were removed. Their findings are the basis of our current retention protocol.
They discovered that the patients that had the straightest teeth also had retainers that they were consistently wearing. That was the number one reason for their straight teeth…continued and consistent retainer wear. It did not matter whether you had third molars removed, or other teeth removed. Some of the patients only wore their retainers 1 time a week and had very straight teeth. Others found that they needed 2 to 3 times a week of wearing their retainers to keep their teeth straight.
Bottom line…retainers are a very important part of the success in keeping your smile as beautiful and your teeth as straight as possible for your lifetime. Please feel free to ask any of our staff or our Doctors about the importance of retainers! Luv My Smile, realizes the importance of retainers for a lifetime of perfect smiles and we offer a very affordable insurance program for all patients who need retainers replaced due to loss or breakage.
Feel free to contact our offices at 916-435-8000 for more information.
