“I wear my retainer, so why are my teeth still shifting?”
After having braces on for three years, I was given a retainer to wear at night. I wear it every night, but I'm still noticing that my teeth are moving. What can I do?
22 Answers
Some settling of the teeth occurs and is a normal part of post orthodontic treatment. The fibers in the gums do have a tendency to pull the teeth back to their original position that is why we recommend lifetime retention. If the retainers are getting noticeable tight then it means that you may not be wearing your retainers long enough. Full time wear or wearing minimally 12 hours per night may be indicated.
Hi there,
I definitely recommend that you stop in to visit your orthodontist for them to check to make sure that the retainers are fitting well. You also have an option of perhaps switching to a fixed retainer which is bonded in place and won’t allow for any movement. Good luck with this I hope all goes well.
Sincerely,
Dr. Waldman
I definitely recommend that you stop in to visit your orthodontist for them to check to make sure that the retainers are fitting well. You also have an option of perhaps switching to a fixed retainer which is bonded in place and won’t allow for any movement. Good luck with this I hope all goes well.
Sincerely,
Dr. Waldman
The retainer may need adjustment as the wire may have become loose over time. You should see your orthodontist for a retainer check.
I would go back to your specialist your orthodontist that treated the case and bring it to his/her attention. You may need a different type of retainer
Hope that helps
Hope that helps
Your teeth might have been moved to a slightly unstable position or bodies change some over time or some teeth might be slightly out of proportion. Go back to your orthodontist and let him take a look.
Your retainers may need to be adjusted by an orthodontist to make sure they are still fitting properly.
For the time being, keep wearing your retainer and make an appointment to see your orthodontist. They should be able to review the situation with you and provide options. Don't stress all should be okay.
If the retainer has not been adjusted or if it has been modified incorrectly through wear over the past three years, the retainer may not be retaining the teeth in their straight position. I recommend calling your orthodontist to set up an appointment to check for the retainer and to see how the teeth can be moved back to optimal esthetics and function.
Best wishes,
Kevin P. McCaffrey, DMD, MS
Best wishes,
Kevin P. McCaffrey, DMD, MS
You may want to see your orthodontist once a year to evaluate the fit of your retainers to see if any adjustments are needed.
Have your orthodontist check your retainers for proper fit. A fixed retainer may be necessary.
Either the retainer is not fitting or it may be worn off. We recommend new retainers every 1-2 yrs if they are clear types. The old plastic-with-wire retainers last longer, but they are not as effective preventing teeth from rotation.
There are several possibilities of problems which can all cause the teeth to move even with retainer wear. For example, there may be a gum issue involved. There is something called a frenum, part of the gums, which can cause the teeth to spread. There could be an issue of pressure from the wisdom teeth trying to come in. The bite may not be perfect, and the pressure from that eruption could cause the teeth to move. You may have an oral habit, one of which is sometimes called a tongue thrust which will cause the teeth to move. There are many others, but without a good look, I cannot give a good diagnosis or reason.
If you feel your teeth are moving, you should see your orthodontist. He may just need to tighten your retainer. You may also need to wear them more than at night or change the retainer type. Different orthodontists have different protocols for retainer wear. My retainer protocol is to wear a retainer full-time for a minimum of 6 months after braces are removed to allow the bone and teeth to stabilize. I don’t go straight to night time wear after braces removal because the teeth are still unstable. After 6 months, if the teeth have stabilized, then night time wear is prescribed.
Glenn P. Frial, DDS, MS, APC
Glenn P. Frial, DDS, MS, APC
That is a very broad question. There are a number of reasons why your teeth might be shifting, including how well your current retainer actually fits. Your best solution is to visit your orthodontist or dentist to have them properly assess the cause for this and find the best solution tailored to your needs.
Sincerely,
Victor Pardi, DDS
Sincerely,
Victor Pardi, DDS
Sometimes retainers can loosen up over time, which can allow your teeth to move a bit. Call your orthodontist and see if they can adjust it for you. Hope this helps...Dr. B.
I would recommend more hours of wear for the next few months. Try to wear your retainers whenever you have free time.
Hope that helps!
Dr. G
Hope that helps!
Dr. G
Try wearing your retainers full time for a while. Take them off to eat and brush your teeth. Only drink water with them in your mouth. Rinse or brush your teeth before placing your retainers back in after eating. After 6-12 months of full time wear, your teeth should be more stable and you can try to wear the retainers at night.
Good luck! Daniel A. Flores, DDS, MS
Good luck! Daniel A. Flores, DDS, MS
What kind of retainer is it?
You need to go see your orthodontist and take your restrainer with you so he can check it out and make sure that it is done correctly and he might recommend a different type retainer.
Good morning
Unfortunately, your body and teeth are constantly changing and teeth have a
tendency to move for the rest of your life. In my practice I recommend
retainers are work 24/7 for the first year after braces are removed and
then at night for life. If your teeth are still moving you should consult
an orthodontist to see if the retainer you are wearing is stable enough.
The other option to consider (once you speak with an orthodontist) is a
permanent or fixed retainer glued on behind your teeth which will help to
prevent tooth movement.
Unfortunately, your body and teeth are constantly changing and teeth have a
tendency to move for the rest of your life. In my practice I recommend
retainers are work 24/7 for the first year after braces are removed and
then at night for life. If your teeth are still moving you should consult
an orthodontist to see if the retainer you are wearing is stable enough.
The other option to consider (once you speak with an orthodontist) is a
permanent or fixed retainer glued on behind your teeth which will help to
prevent tooth movement.
It's difficult to anwer that question without seeing the patient, but
usually the retainers might need to be adjusted, because it appears they
are not fitting in the proper wear. sometimes a different type of retainer
is needed, because the original problem was difficult and the teeth are in
need of a different type of retention appliance. These are just a few of
the reasons why you might experience movement in your teeth. I hope this
helps. Dr. Holman
usually the retainers might need to be adjusted, because it appears they
are not fitting in the proper wear. sometimes a different type of retainer
is needed, because the original problem was difficult and the teeth are in
need of a different type of retention appliance. These are just a few of
the reasons why you might experience movement in your teeth. I hope this
helps. Dr. Holman
Different types of tooth movement require different types of retainers. Some require fixed (non-removeable) retention long term. Severe rotations and excessive spacing are just two examples of types of tooth movement that should be held with bonded retainers for several years. Once the bone and periodontal ligaments around the roots of the teeth get reasonably stable, then a nighttime removeable retainer can usually get the job done. However, each case must be evaluated individually for type of retainer to use, and for how long.
