One of the best moments for braces patients is seeing their new smile for the first time. Patients with Smith & Davis Orthodontics find they have a whole new boost of self-confidence as they proudly show off their new smile. But what happens when, one day, that perfect smile isn’t so perfect anymore thanks to teeth shifting?
Teeth shifting after braces can occur with any patient wearing braces, but there are ways to prevent it. There are also ways to repair the damage once it’s happened.
At Smith & Davis Orthodontics, we want you to love your smile for a lifetime. That’s why we follow up your braces treatment with retainers and orthodontic care. How do you keep that perfect smile? We have a few suggestions.
Why Are My Teeth Shifting After Braces?
Teeth shifting after braces isn’t uncommon, but it can be minimized and even prevented with the proper care. As with your braces, how much or little your teeth shift after braces depends on your participation in your own oral care.
What can cause an orthodontic relapse? There are several possible reasons:
- Not wearing retainers long enough or not wearing them properly.
- Changes in the jaws due to aging
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
- Jaw or teeth injuries
- Changes in chewing patterns due to TMJ
- Wisdom teeth eruption or impaction
While some of these may be harder to control, the easiest way to prevent teeth shifting is by wearing your retainer after braces as prescribed. Sometimes, though, that’s not enough.
Can Teeth Shift With a Retainer?
Can teeth shift even with a retainer? It’s possible. If the retainer’s not working or you have permanent retainer issues or even removable retainer problems, your teeth can move.
How can you tell if your retainer’s not fitting? Can teeth shift overnight? Teeth shifting takes time, so if your retainers don’t fit properly the first day you wear them, they likely need to be adjusted. We adjust your retainers when we fit them to you, but if they still don’t feel right, give us a call. We want to fix the problem before your teeth move.
Do retainers move teeth back once they’re adjusted properly? No, so don’t wait to call us if you notice any problems with your retainers.
“How long do I need to wear my retainer?” It’s probably the most common question we hear about retainers. In general, you’ll wear your removable retainers 22 hours a day for the first few months, removing them only to eat and brush your teeth. After several months, we’ll evaluate you and determine if your jaw is strong enough to reduce your time in retainers to approximately eight hours a day — typically overnight for most patients.
After that, you’ll need to wear your retainers overnight from then on to maintain your smile. There is such a thing as teeth shifting years after braces, so retainers will need to be part of your overnight routine for years to come.
Do I Have to Get Braces After Teeth Shifting?
What happens if your teeth have shifted? If the shifting is minor, you likely won’t need further treatment unless you prefer it. However, enough shifting can cause a bad bite and lead to problems chewing, biting, speaking, and breathing. You could end up with headaches, neck aches, jaw fatigue, and temporomandibular joint problems (TMJ).
The good news is that, unless there are significant changes to your teeth and jaws, you will likely be a good candidate for treatment with clear aligners instead of braces.
Invisalign and Clarity Advanced clear aligners offer the same level of movement as braces, but without the use of metal wires and brackets. Instead, they use custom-molded, clear acrylic trays to apply gentle pressure and gently move your teeth back into place.
Today’s clear aligners are designed to handle even the most challenging orthodontic cases. Moving teeth after a slight shift in teeth shifting shouldn’t be a problem. Unlike braces, clear aligners are harder to see on the teeth and take less time to work, so people likely won’t realize you’re back in treatment until it’s over and your perfect smile is back.
Wearing Clear Aligners After Braces
Wearing Invisalign after braces or Clarity Advanced will be easier in some ways, but will require more dedication on your part to keep your treatment short and successful. Here are some things to expect with clear aligners.
- Unlike braces, clear aligners are removable, so you don’t have food restrictions.
- Remove your aligner trays before eating, drinking dark liquids, brushing, or flossing.
- Follow the prescription instructions for each set of trays (one upper and one lower tray per set). You will usually switch trays for the next set in sequence every 1-2 weeks.
- Keep your previous set in case something happens to the new set. You can step back into the old ones until the problem is solved.
- Wear your Invisalign or Clarity Advanced at least 22 hours a day.
- Keep your trays in a proper, clear aligners storage case when you aren’t wearing them.
- Keep trays out of reach of small children or pets that could damage them.
- Keep them away from heat sources, such as hot cars, direct sunlight, or dishwashers.
- Clean your clear aligners daily.
- Contact us immediately if your trays become damaged or lost, so we can replace them and keep your treatment on schedule.
Repairing Teeth Shift in Northwest Arkansas
Have your teeth shifted since braces treatment? You may be able to resolve the problem with clear aligners instead of having to return to braces. Clear aligners treatment in Rogers, AR, is available at Smith & Davis Orthodontics.
The ideal situation is to prevent teeth from shifting, and the best way to do so is by wearing your retainers. Schedule an appointment with us if you have any problems with your retainers. We love it when we see our patients showing off their new, perfect smiles. We want to make sure they stay that way!
Leave a Comment