How Long Do You Need to Wear a Retainer After Orthodontic Treatment?

Orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong that is good at braces treatment

Director Yoon Jeong-won of the Daechi-dong orthodontic clinic

Hello, I am Yoon Jeong-won, the chief director of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic in Daechi-dong.

When the long 1- to 2-year orthodontic treatment is finally over and the day comes to remove the brackets, patients who come to the orthodontic clinic often ask the question they worry about the most. It is about the retainer.

“Isn’t it over now? Why do I need to wear a retainer again?”

“How long do I have to wear it?”

After orthodontic treatment is completed and the appliances are removed, the teeth are strongly pulled by the force to return to their original positions.

This happens because the tissue around the teeth, called the periodontal ligament, pulls the teeth back to their original location.

In particular, tooth movement is most active within 6 months after treatment, and it takes at least 1 year to adapt to the new position.

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic in Daechi-dong

So if you do not wear a retainer, the carefully aligned teeth can shift very quickly.

In severe cases, you may even need orthodontic retreatment.

If you look around, you will often see cases where someone had orthodontic treatment as a child, but now their teeth have shifted and they need retreatment.

In the past, awareness of the importance of retainers was relatively low, so some people did not get a fixed retainer attached to the inside of the teeth and only used a removable retainer, or did not use a retainer at all. As a result, the teeth shifted over time.

Nowadays, most orthodontic clinics usually use both a fixed retainer (a wire attached to the inside of the teeth) and a removable retainer (a device you take in and out). Using both together is the safest approach.

Retainers

It is best to wear a removable retainer every day for at least as long as the period you had orthodontic treatment. After that, you can gradually reduce the frequency and wear it a few times a week, or only while sleeping. However, in principle, it is safest to keep a fixed retainer on for life.

It has been 16 years since I finished orthodontic treatment, and I still have a fixed retainer attached.

In the past, one of my retainers came loose slightly, and during that time my teeth visibly moved, so I ended up having retreatment with clear aligners. That is why I jokingly tell patients, “I’ll keep it attached until the day I die.” 😊

Orthodontic treatment

Lastly, even while wearing a retainer, it is important to visit the dental clinic regularly for checkups. In particular, a fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded to the teeth with adhesive, and if even one or two spots come loose, patients often do not notice. If it is left that way for a long time, food can get stuck and the teeth can shift again.

Retainers are forever. We can't stress this enough.

Teeth want to shift!

Orthodontic treatment is not truly finished the moment the brackets come off; it is only complete when you properly manage the retainer as well.

If you are choosing a dental clinic for orthodontic treatment, I recommend going to a doctor with extensive experience.

Director Yoon Jeong-won of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic has devoted more than 16 years to orthodontic care and has treated more than 6,000 various orthodontic cases to date. She holds a doctorate in orthodontics from Yonsei University Dental Hospital and is also an adjunct professor. Since she is the chief director, she is always on site at the clinic, so there is no case where the doctor in charge changes midway, allowing you to receive treatment with peace of mind. There is also the advantage of flexible appointment scheduling and better handling of emergency situations.

With her long experience in orthodontic care, she has extensive experience with difficult cases, including patients who were diagnosed at other clinics as requiring jaw surgery but were able to be treated with nonsurgical orthodontics. So anyone seeking orthodontic treatment can receive good care in any case.

In addition, there is Dr. Ahn Ji-ho, a prosthodontic specialist who is in charge of general dentistry, so there is the advantage that you do not need to visit another clinic for dental treatments that may be needed during orthodontic care, such as extractions or cavity treatment; all treatment is possible at our Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic. Therefore, all necessities for orthodontic treatment can be handled in one place, and it can be said that the clinic provides high-level care.

In terms of facilities, we have a systematic 7-step diagnostic system using the latest equipment, including Panoramic X-ray, low-radiation 3D CBCT, iTero Lumina 3D oral scanning, before-and-after simulation through Morpheus 3D imaging, and determining the timing of orthodontic treatment for children according to their growth rate using VUNO Med®-BoneAge™ (growth plate test).

Furthermore, Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic uses sterile treatment water through the NovaCare system, in addition to sterilizing the instruments used during treatment, so you do not need to worry about the treatment water. We also maintain pleasant indoor air with an efficient air circulation system using an energy recovery ventilator and a safe air purification system using dual filters (HEPA filter and pre-filter).

Advantages of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic

If you are considering orthodontic treatment, please do not delay any longer and feel free to contact Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic for a detailed consultation. Orthodontic treatment at Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic includes the diagnostic examination fee, monthly fees, and other costs (however, retainer fees are excluded), so you do not need to worry about additional expenses. Also, because the general dentistry department is available, all necessary treatments for orthodontics, such as extractions and cavity treatment, can be done in one place, and the installment payment system helps reduce the burden of paying a large amount all at once, making it even more appealing.

If you visit Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, a specialized orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong, you can accurately understand your current condition through a simple oral examination at no additional cost, and you can also hear explanations about various orthodontic appliances used in treatment. Please feel free to contact us for a consultation.

During the consultation, you can compare various appliances such as Clarity, Clippy-C, and Invisalign with your own eyes and receive detailed explanations of their advantages and disadvantages, so we encourage you to call or visit for a consultation without hesitation.

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic is conveniently located near Samseong Station, Hakyeoul Station, Daechi Station, and Hanti Station, making it very convenient for visitors from Samseong-dong, Daechi-dong, Gaepo-dong, Dogok-dong, Ilswon-dong, Yeoksam-dong, Jamsil, and other areas.

Next to BMW at the Daechi-dong Woosung Apartment intersection

(Across from Starbucks/Samsung Store)

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic in Daechi-dong has convenient and free parking.

Consultation and inquiries: 02-501-2879