Retainers In Lakeland, FL

Completing orthodontic treatment — whether with traditional braces or clear aligners — is only part of the process. Once the teeth have been moved to their new positions, they have a natural tendency to drift back toward where they started. A retainer is what holds them in place during the period when the bone and connective tissue around the teeth are stabilizing to the new alignment. Without consistent retainer wear, the results of months or years of orthodontic treatment can gradually reverse.

At Family Dentistry of Lakeland, we provide custom retainers for patients completing cosmetic and orthodontic treatment throughout Lakeland, FL and Polk County. A 2023 Cochrane systematic review published in the National Library of Medicine confirmed that without a phase of retention after successful orthodontic treatment, teeth tend to relapse toward their initial position, making retainer wear a clinically essential step in protecting the outcome of any tooth movement treatment. Dr. Maneesha Chigurupati and our team fit every patient who completes aligner or orthodontic treatment with a custom retainer and provide clear guidance on how to wear and care for it.

Why Teeth Move After Treatment

Tooth movement during orthodontic treatment works by applying sustained pressure that gradually shifts teeth through the surrounding bone. After treatment, the bone and periodontal ligament fibers need time to remodel and stabilize around the teeth in their new positions. During this remodeling period — and for years afterward — the teeth are susceptible to relapse if not held in place.

The tendency to relapse varies from patient to patient and from tooth to tooth. Lower front teeth are particularly prone to crowding over time as part of the natural aging process, independent of orthodontic history. This is why most orthodontic and dental professionals recommend some form of retention indefinitely rather than for a limited period.

Types of Retainers We Provide

Our team provides two primary types of retainers, and the right choice depends on the patient’s treatment history, the teeth involved, and individual preference.

Removable clear retainers are fabricated from a thin, transparent thermoplastic material using impressions or digital scans of the teeth after treatment is complete. They fit snugly over the teeth and are nearly invisible when worn. Patients wear them full time initially and transition to nighttime wear as stability improves. These retainers are easy to clean and easy to replace if lost or damaged.

Fixed retainers consist of a thin wire bonded to the back surfaces of the front teeth, typically the lower front six. They hold those teeth in place continuously without requiring any patient action. Fixed retainers are ideal for patients who are concerned about remembering to wear a removable device, and they are particularly effective for maintaining lower anterior alignment. They require extra attention during flossing but do not interfere with eating, speaking, or appearance in any way.

Retainers After Invisalign and SureSmile

Patients completing Invisalign or SureSmile clear aligner treatment receive custom retainers as part of completing treatment at our practice. The final aligner in a clear aligner series is not a substitute for a purpose-made retainer — it will wear and distort over time and is not designed for long-term retention use. A proper custom retainer made from impressions taken after the last aligner is removed provides the accurate, stable fit needed for long-term results.