How to Avoid Orthodontic Relapse?
Dr. B. Kanagasabapathy
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
Wearing dental braces ensures you perfect straight teeth at the end of orthodontic treatments. Besides correcting the position of misaligned teeth, the teeth straightening treatment tends to improve appearance, provide a gorgeous smile, enhance oral functions, and other privileges. However, the teeth will not stay in their streamlined positions if you do not follow the important aftercare activities.
The straightened teeth moving back to their normal position after the treatment ends may appear a rare case but it is fairly common. It is called orthodontic relapse. About 50% of people encounter this problem with varying degrees within the first 10 years after revamping their dental alignment.
Such orthodontic relapses can be fixed with some touch-up treatments and prevented with pertinent self-care activities.
How does orthodontic relapse occur?
Before discussing the tips and treatments to avoid such relapses, let’s discuss the most possible factor that pushes back the aligned teeth to their original positions.
- Teeth grinding
- Neglecting retainers after the braces are removed
- Lack of monitoring
- Stick to eating foods that are not teeth-friendly
- Ignoring the orthodontist’s post-care instructions
- Preferring accelerated orthodontic treatments. Such fast-paced teeth straightening solutions do not provide enough time for the teeth to set.
What should you do to prevent orthodontic relapse?
The common aftercare instructions our orthodontists recommend to our patients to prevent the teeth from moving again after the straightening treatment are here.
1) Wear Retainers
Wearing a retainer is the simplest way to avoid relapses in orthodontic treatments. Keep in mind that the teeth straightening treatments do not end once the braces (or Invisalign) are removed. The teeth take at least a year to fix in their new positions.
The absence of pressure exerted with dental braces during this period would empower the ligaments in the mouth to pull back the teeth to their original position, Hence orthodontic treatments involve retainers as a part to avoid such problems. Generally, there are 2 types of retainers are prescribed as follows:
- Fixed retainers
- Removable retainers
2) Look at soft tissue interference
It occurs in rare cases. The excess of periodontal ligament fibers is powerful to accelerate orthodontic relapses. In such cases, cutting those extra fiber tissues is essential to preserve the gorgeous smile achieved after straightening your teeth.
When you notice excessive tissues in your gums that cause gaps between your teeth, consult your dentist immediately. It can be removed with a periodontal surgical procedure called a frenectomy.
3) Address bad oral habits
As seen above, teeth grinding after the course of orthodontic treatment is powerful to relapse the straightened teeth. Likewise, you should refrain from doing the following habits to preserve the teeth in their properly aligned position. Here are some instances:
- Tongue Thrust
- Finger sucking
- Mouth breathing
4) Get regular orthodontic checkups
You should visit your dentist regularly for checkups even after the braces come off. The teeth and gums undergo mild changes until the teeth get settled into the new positions permanently. Hence orthodontists have to assess the teeth on the 2nd, 6th, and 18th months after removing the braces.
Such check-ups aid in detecting if the patient has any problems that affect the position of straightened teeth.
What are the treatments available to fix orthodontic relapses?
If you notice mild to moderate orthodontic relapses, don’t worry or doubt the standard of teeth straightening treatment you received. Consult your orthodontist. After analyzing the degree of relapse, you would be provided with some touch-up treatments that match your needs.
For instance, if the relapse is mild to moderate, it can be treated by wearing appliances like retainers, aligners for a few months. Meanwhile, retreatment is required for severe cases. Don’t worry. Orthodontic relapses are common but they are preventable and treatable.
Want to know more about the orthodontic relapse prevention tips and treatment options available? Contact our Orthodontists in Tirunelveli.
