Orthodontic Retainers

 

People with crooked teeth or misaligned bite (bites) can correct them by wearing special types of orthodontic retainers. Usually, a recommendation is obtained from a dentist for an orthodontist, which is a specialized dentist that helps patients with such problems.

 

What are orthodontic retainers ?

 

Braces are usually needed to correct the alignment of teeth, but, after they are removed, retainers must be employed to keep the teeth in the new position. Teeth are dynamic entities. Therefore they tend to move throughout the whole lifetime of an individual. The worst situation that can happen is if you do not wear retainers, your teeth could revert towards their original position and all your efforts to be thrown out the window!

 

What is the regular procedure for getting orthodontic retainers ?

 

First of all, the orthodontist will run some checkups and tests to establish the best orthodontic treatment. You will be asked questions about your general health, and the orthodontist will recommend you for X-rays for the mouth and the head. Also, photos of your teeth and impressions will be taken, so that the specialist will have a very clear idea about what course of action to take, in order to correct the teeth irregularities you are suffering from. Orthodontic retainers are quite commonly recommended, and they solve a vast percentage of the cases that an orthodontist can treat.

 

Is orthodontic treatment for children recommended ?

 

Actually, the sooner you identify the problems and you decide to work on them, the easier it is to treat them. For children, this decision must be taken by parents, and, according to the Canadian and American Association of Orthodontists, it is recommended to run an orthodontic examination (test) for your kids as soon as they reach the age of 7. Even if the braces are not always employed right away, the orthodontist will be able to establish whether a child will or will not have orthodontic problems. Orthodontic retainers can be recommended for children between 7 and 9 years of age, when most of the teeth form. This way, any irregularities are corrected and the children grow up having nice teeth. Moreover, early treatment can provide more space for future adult teeth to come in (erupt).

 

Is there such a thing as orthodontic treatment for adults ?

 

Adults are concerned that they cannot straighten their teeth after a certain age, but this is no longer true, considering that adults nowadays can keep their natural teeth more than say 20 years ago and considering that newer technologies in orthodontic retainers are available. Actually, almost 25 percent of those attending orthodontic treatment are adults that want their teeth irregularities to be corrected by an orthodontist.

It is never too late to start on an orthodontic treatment, but you should check with your orthodontist to see what treatments are best recommended in your case.

 

What is the usual adult braces cost ?

 

Orthodontic treatments vary significantly from one case to another. Depending on the complexity of each case, orthodontists discuss the pricing terms with their patients, and various arrangements can be made. Dental coverage may be inclusive of orthodontic treatments, and you may be able to cover the costs this way. It is important to have orthodontic retainers to keep your teeth in place after you have them aligned. Talk to us about various types of retainers that can suit you and about different methods of payment that are available to you.