A Retainer Will Be Needed After Your Braces Have Been Removed

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Traditional braces are frequently used to address misaligned teeth, malocclusion and overcrowding issues. The process requires regularly scheduled adjustments to alter the periodontal connective tissues that bond your teeth to the underlying gums.

Once your teeth have achieved their ideal alignment the braces hardware can be uninstalled from your mouth. Yet will this is not the end of the process of providing you with an appealing smile and efficient oral function that will last a lifetime.

There will still be a modest amount of lingering tension in your periodontal connective tissues. Using a retainer will help prevent this latent tension from causing your teeth to drift out of their new orientation.

Hawley retainers are the most common type of retainer provided by our orthodontist. It is essentially a piece of oral acrylic designed to closely match the shape of your upper mouth. When installed in your mouth it will lock onto specific teeth to help them remain in their corrected position.

A fixed retainer might also need to be installed in a specific area required significant correction. It is a firm metal band cemented behind the teeth to firmly lock them in place.

Dr. Brenna Christensen will provide you with any necessary care and cleaning instructions to help maintain your retainer and maximize its effect.

If you live in the Kennesaw, Georgia, area and you have misaligned teeth, you should call 678-401-4321 to set up a braces consultation at West Cobb Orthodontics.