Most people are guilty of occasionally neglecting their dental health. In fact, half of Australian adults don't even brush their teeth twice a day. Of course, if you've had orthodontic treatment, wouldn't you be extra careful to take care of your teeth, considering all the effort that has gone into straightening them? If you haven't been diligent in wearing your prescribed retainer after your dental braces have been removed, your orthodontic work might actually begin to reverse itself.
The Periodontal Ligament
The reason why teeth can begin to revert to their previous position after orthodontic treatment is the periodontal ligament. It's an extremely thin tissue composed largely of collagen and connects the root of the tooth to the underlying bone. Think of it as an elastic band, and when teeth have been realigned by orthodontic work, this band can attempt to untwist itself, instead of accepting its newly adjusted position.
The Retainer
The retainer you will be given after your orthodontic treatment is what helps to keep your teeth in the correct position. You must wear it as per your orthodontist's instructions, but the number of hours you wear it each day will decrease as the months go by. But when you don't wear it and some repositioning of your teeth occurs, then action will be needed. Invisalign can be the best course of action.
A Light Option
No, it's not as though you need to commit to a full course of Invisalign treatment, but a version of the process known as Invisalign Lite can solve your problem, and if you don't want to use Invisalign specifically, other types of aligners also have a similar program. This treatment is designed for minor orthodontic issues, and this includes reversing the relapse of your teeth after dental braces.
Short-Term Treatment
The treatment itself is fairly brief, and although it can vary, it will still take several months. These aligners are positioned behind the teeth, making them largely invisible. They work progressively, so the aligner is regularly replaced with one in a new, slightly different configuration.
Aligner Replacement
This replacement simply repeats itself throughout the course of your treatment, and once this treatment has finished, your teeth will have returned to the position determined by your original orthodontic work. When this has happened, you will need to wear your retainer as per your orthodontist's instructions so that the problem doesn't repeat itself.
The best option is to wear your retainer religiously after your orthodontic treatment, but when this doesn't happen, Invisalign can help to reverse this relapse. Speak with a professional for more information about Invisalign.
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