Getting or having braces is quite a big deal for sure with the long treatment period, follow-ups & the discomfort faced during and after adjustments made which includes dull soarness or throbbing pain along with some amount of restrictions on munching your favorite food during this period. 😦

But the end result of all this is an improved facial appearance with properly aligned teeth aiding in speech & mastication ; in short – A healthy new smile :).

Is that the end of the story ?? Certainly not !!

The main part of the whole treatment is how you maintain the corrections made & retain it for future.

Here’s where terms like retention & relapse come into picture.

What is retention?

Maintaining newly moved teeth in position,long enough to aid in stabilizing their correction.-Moyers

Why do patients need retention?

Because of the post treatment changes that occur leading to relapse.

Relapse-Loss of any correction achieved by orthodontic treatment. Causes of relapse:

• Periodontal ligment traction
• Due to growth related changes
• Bone adaptation
• Muscular forces
• Failure to eliminate the cause of malocclussion
• Eruption of third molars
• Role of occlusion

Schools of retention:

Theories of retention:

Riedel summarized the nine theories and Moyers added another theory which is the tenth theory mentioned here.

• Theorem 1: Teeth that have been moved tend to return to their former position
• Theorem 2:Elimination of the cause of malocclussion will prevent relapse
• Theorem 3:Malocclussion should be over-corrected as a safety factor
• Theorem 4: Proper occlusion is a potent factor in holding teeth in their corrected positions
• Theorem 5:Bone & adjacent tissues must be allowed time to reorganize around newly positioned teeth
• Theorem 6: If the lower incisors are placed upright over basal bone they are more likely to remain in good alignment
• Theorem 7: Corrections carried out during the periods of growth are less likely to relapse
• Theorem 8: The farther the teeth have been moved ,the lesser is the risk of relapse
• Theorem 9: Arch form,particularly in the mandibular arch,cannot be permanently altered by appliance therapy
• Theorem 10: Many treated malocclussion require permanent retaining devices

Remember as : REOP TLP FAR (REOPening To Let Patients Follow And Retain)

✒Manisha

Sources: Bhalaji -Orthodontics the art and science,www.erufucare.com, http://www.buzzfeed.com