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 the the 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! Also, starting in 2009, Cater Galante Orthodontics will be offering a retainer insurance program so that you can get a new set of retainers every year at a discounted price along with bleaching gel.
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