Okay so I'm getting my retainer soon and what will it do? Will it still help my teeth close? And how long will I have to wear it?
2007-06-11 12:27:46 · 8 answers · asked by Dimples 5 in Health ➔ Dental
It is just there to keep your teeth straight while they are getting used to their new adjustment.
2007-06-11 12:30:53 · answer #1 · answered by Candy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Retainers are devices used by orhtodontists to make more money. :p
Actually the purpose is to keep your teeth aligned and set once your braces come off. The idea is that braces slowly force your teeth to shift into position. As you know, it's very slow and rather uncomfortable. What you might not realise is that when this happens your teeth become a little loose. Not like when you're losing a baby tooth and you can wiggle it back and forth, but loose in the sense that if it's not kept in place it can shift a bit and settle somewhere not intended.
So he has you wear a retainer, or will cement a band on your lower teeth to keep them in place until they set in their new positions.
I had a retainer that I had to wear at night for my upper teeth that I had to wear for 6 months before I could get rid of it. And I had a retainer cemented to my lower teeth for about 2 years before it was removed.
2007-06-11 19:35:58 · answer #2 · answered by JavaJoe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a retainer helps keep your teeth straight...you probably will need to keep wearing it until your teeth are settled into their new alignment. Or until you quit growing.
2007-06-11 19:33:14 · answer #3 · answered by islandboosky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It helps keep teeth in place. I have to wear my retainers forever but that's what my orthodontist told me. Your time might be shorter.
2007-06-11 19:34:09 · answer #4 · answered by Wendy Bird 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will keep the position of your teeth until they have set in the desired place. Length of time, dependent on age, severity,etc... Hope that helped, good luck w/ your BEAUTIFUL teeth.
2007-06-11 19:45:26 · answer #5 · answered by doggie_dundee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had to get two retainers. The first one was because I had crossbite. The second one didn't look anything like it and was kinda like braces. Anyways the second one was to make sure and keep the crossbite from happening. Don't be scared, it doesn't hurt!
2007-06-11 19:32:27 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its basically used to hold your teeth in place, if you dont wear one, then your teeth will move back and not be straight
2007-06-11 19:33:03 · answer #7 · answered by missmary 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it keeps ur teeth in place
ull prob wear it for 1-4 yrs
2007-06-11 19:31:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋