This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted by Doctor of Dentistry - Jaw - Face - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Today, with the great development of orthodontic techniques, cases of misaligned or more complicated teeth can be handled and brought about with high efficiency through braces. However, after finishing the treatment period with braces, the retainer is always prescribed by dentists for patients after braces are used. So what is the maintainer function? Why wear retainers?
1. What is the maintenance function? How many types of maintainer functions are there?
The retainer is an instrument that the doctor gives the braces person to use after the orthodontic process is completed (the brackets and wires have been removed). The retainer function helps to stabilize the teeth more quickly, ensuring the most effective braces results.
Retainers usually have two types: fixed retainers and removable retainers. Like brackets when choosing braces, retainers also have many different types to choose from, such as retainers in the form of plastic trays, or made of metal hooks, can also be fixed frames. .
Many people think that after removing braces, they are often subjective, do not have the habit of wearing a retainer as prescribed by the doctor, leading to a situation where the teeth are quickly displaced, relapsed and returned to the original position. . It can be said that wearing retainers is the ultimate challenging journey to have beautiful teeth.
2. Why wear retainers?
According to structure, human teeth are placed in the jawbone, surrounded by periodontal ligaments. These periodontal ligaments have “a memory”. After removing the brackets, the teeth will need a period of time for the gum tissue and periodontal tissue to adjust to the stable structure. If the retainer is not worn during this time, the memory of the old position of the periodontal ligament will cause the tooth to move back to its original position.
The teeth after a long time of braces are under pressure, both the teeth and jawbone are still sensitive, weaker than usual and the teeth are still unstable in the alveolar bone. In addition, in the process of eating, the teeth and bite must work a lot. Therefore, teeth tend to return to their original eruption position. Therefore, the retainer will be a tool to help ensure the results of braces, keeping the teeth stable in the new position, not shifting or misaligning and aligning the teeth until the bones, teeth and gums has adapted to the change of teeth.
The retainer also helps to hold the tooth in the new position stably, creating new bone in harmony with the tooth when in the new position. The process of keeping a fixed tooth “in place” can take anywhere from 9 to 12 months. That is also the reason why doctors often recommend that people who have finished orthodontic treatment after removing braces need to wear retainers continuously for the first 12 months after removing braces.
3. How long do I have to wear a retainer?
The time to wear the jaw depends on the deviation of the orthodontic anterior teeth and the bite problem, in most cases it is necessary to wear a retainer.
Specific wear time: the first month after removing the brackets, you will wear it continuously day and night, then wear it at night, a few years later you can wear it less often like 2-3 times a week. Wear until old age.
Note to maintain oral hygiene
And to ensure that the entire period of wearing the jaw to maintain healthy teeth, oral hygiene needs to be focused. This will help prevent dental diseases.
The retainer should be cleaned daily, when brushing teeth. The retainer should be rinsed with cold water and gently cleaned with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste. This will help clean up dirt and food particles on the retainer, limiting the growth of bacteria that damage oral health.
The retainer needs to be removed for eating and water sports activities. Every time the retainer is removed to participate in sports, activities or eating, it should be carefully stored in a dedicated box to prevent it from being broken or lost.
Especially do not clean the retainer in hot water because it can cause the plastic jaw to be deformed.
It is necessary to absolutely follow the treatment regimen of the doctor, follow-up appointments according to the appointment schedule to bring the highest efficiency. The regular examination also helps the doctor to check and handle promptly when necessary for additional problems.
Specializing in Dentistry - jaw - face, Vinmec hospital is equipped with KAVO dental chair system (Germany), camera at the tooth chair, panorama machine of Gendex, X-ray machine of in-situ socket, Phosphorus film scanner of Gendex, Dently ultrasound machine, Radii Plus Australia teeth whitening forging, endodontic machine, root canal length meter.... help maximize the examination and implementation of all dental and maxillofacial techniques.
In addition, Vinmec gathers a team of experts, leading doctors with high qualifications, experience, dedication and devotion to the health of patients.
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