Are you a patient who has had orthodontics before and now finds that your teeth are returning to their original position? Orthodontic relapse happens in a patient whose teeth start moving towards their original positions. There may be many reasons for this, but fortunately, a skilled orthodontist can help prevent orthodontic relapse.
In fact, the bones in the body have the capacity to change and adjust for the rest of their lives, so broken bones can heal over time. From 20-50 years of age, teeth continue to move forward, causing the front teeth to become crowded. This will happen regardless of whether there are wisdom teeth or not. Some orthodontists even claim that today they treat adult patients who have previously undergone orthodontic treatment.
Reasons for orthodontic relapse
To prevent the return of orthodontic treatment, it is necessary to get acquainted with the factors that affect the outcome of orthodontic treatment. Here are some of them:
Not using a retainer
The most common reason a patient may experience orthodontic relapse after orthodontic treatment is they stop using retainers provided by the orthodontist. After orthodontic brackets are removed, the teeth, along with the surrounding bones and gums, need time to settle into their new locations. That is why it is so important to have a retainer to prevent orthodontic relapse.
A retainer is essential to protect the teeth from the forces that want to bring them closer to their original positions. In fact, to ensure that orthodontic relapse does not occur, retainers are a lifelong commitment that can play an effective role in maintaining the position of the teeth.
Dental abrasion
If you grind and squeeze your teeth hard, you should not expect much from orthodontic treatment unless you give up this bad habit anyway. The aligned teeth are affected by these, causing their misalignment and orthodontic relapse.
Genetics
Even if you have a beautiful smile at first and never need orthodontic treatment, thanks to your genetics, your teeth may change over time.
Dental extraction
It is interesting to know that dental extraction or dental caries after the end of orthodontic treatment is one of the reasons for orthodontic relapse. In fact, when patients pull their teeth, space is created and other teeth try to move to the open space. This can lead to teeth misalignment.
Aging
Human teeth naturally change and wear out with aging. As more enamel abrades, your teeth may move over time, setting the stage for orthodontic relapse.
The need for patients to pay attention to orthodontic care
According to orthodontists, awareness of the various factors that can contribute to orthodontic relapse makes one pay more attention to why the use of retainers after orthodontic treatment is so important.
In fact, post-orthodontic care is part of the treatment, and paying attention to them will enable the patient to achieve the desired and acceptable result. However, some patients may experience a major orthodontic relapse and require another course of orthodontic treatment.
During orthodontic treatment, the teeth are put in their place, but when the brackets are removed, the elastic tissues of the gums try to pull the teeth to their original position. This is why malocclusion is a persistent disorder.
During orthodontic treatment performed in over two years, the teeth are placed and stabilize in their main position, but it should be noted that this does not mean that the patient can stop using retainers immediately after the end of treatment. The orthodontist may ask the patients to use retainers for a long time so that they can always have a beautiful smile on their faces and prevent orthodontic relapse. An experienced orthodontist makes accurate predictions of your orthodontic outcome, and patients rarely feel the need for re-orthodontics.