Dentist Questions Dental Retainers

How long do I need to wear my retainer for?

My dentist promises that I wouldn't need my retainer forever (honestly, I hate wearing it). But he didn't give me an idea of how long I would need to wear my retainer for. How many years do patients have to wear a retainer, typically?

11 Answers

Some need it FOREVER
The teeth need to be stabilized. Follow your dentist's advice.
The best advice I can give you as an orthodontist is you always keep your retainer handy because you'll know when you put it in if anything has moved. Do you uncomfortable tight feeling that you feel become very obvious that something has moved and you've left the retainer out too long.
It depends on each case. Ask the dentist that put the retainer on. That is what he is for.
How long do you want your teeth to stay straight? It may sound like I am being patronizing but that is now the best answer we can give a patient. We used to think you wear a retainer for a few years after treatment and teeth should stay where we now have them. The fact teeth tend to move through out our life do to the forces on them. lower anterior crowding is a common occurrence weather you have had braces or not. So if you don't want your teeth to move wear some sort of retainer at least a few hours every day or three.
Many, many years ago, orthodontist typically would say you only need to wear your retainers for 2 years; or until you turn 18 years old, if you had orthodontic treatment as a child. However, teeth will always shift throughout your lifetime whether or not you had orthodontic treatment. Therefore, I tell my patients that they need to wear their retainers full-time for 6 months then at night . . . forever. Best regards, Dr. Glenn Frial
Retainers should be worn full time for about half the time you had active orthodontic treatment. For example, if you had active orthodontic treatment for 24 months, then you would need to wear your retainers full time for 12 months. After the full time period, you should wear retainers for the same period of time at night. Then after the night time wear period, you may begin to ween yourself off retainers by going every other night for a few months, then every 3 nights, then every 4 nights, until you you reach every 7th night. After that, you should wear your retainers every 7th night for the rest of your life, to keep you teeth aligned and preserve your investment in straight teeth. Teeth are not set in stone and various forces from the cheeks, tongue, eating, and habits can shift the teeth over a period of time. To avoid the inevitable shifting of teeth, a small investment in time wearing your retainers, will go a long way to preserving your beautiful smile.

Daniel A. Flores, DDS, MS
You need to wear them nightly forever or at least 5-8 years to prevent relapse of your dentition. New retainers can be fabricated when they wear out.
It is possible to obtain a static orthodontic result. Many times it may not be the case and therefore teeth will move over time. In order to ensure that you maintain a great smile (alignment), I would advise always wearing your retainer every night. Gum disease can also cause tooth movement.
Sorry to tell you but for best results after orthodontics, you should continue to wear your retainer forever. This time can be limited to each night, while you sleep. Your teeth WILL move if you do not.
After orthodontic treatment, retention is for life! Many people opt not to wear their retainers and are fine with mild teeth movements. Our teeth naturally move over time unless held in place. Hope this helps.