Once the treatment is complete, the orthodontist will remove the appliance, i.e. remove the appliance installed at the beginning of the treatment. Once completed, the practitioner will perform a cleaning of the dental surfaces that have been fitted, in order to remove any residue of bonding resin, and to present beautiful teeth. The orthodontist also takes the opportunity to make an assessment of the entire oral cavity, and advise a general dentist if necessary.
Once the removal is done, the orthodontist will put in place the retainer. During orthodontic treatment, the bone that surrounds the tooth roots has been reshaped. Thus, once the teeth are in the right position, it is important to wear a so-called « retainer » appliance, in order to consolidate the bone until it becomes firm enough to hold the teeth in their new position. The duration of the restraint is particularly variable: it will depend on both the corrected malformation and the age of the patient. Often, this is one year, but in adult patients, it may have to remain « for life ».
There are several types of retainers, between fixed bonded appliances, or removable appliances to be worn as often as possible. To ensure maximum solidity of the orthodontic treatment, your practitioner will indicate how to properly wear the chosen retainer as well as its duration.
