A lot of people who have just removed their braces are getting a little bit confused by the doctor's statement that they're going to wear the maintenance device. How long does it take to wear it? Is it true that the internet says it's gonna last forever
Actually, there's never been a one-size-fits-all answer for the time of the maintenance. But what is certain is that it is as important as the corrective device itself。
Why do you have to wear the maintenance
The process of tooth correction is essentially a process of pushing the wrong teeth to the right place through the power of the orthotic. But the teeth do not exist in isolation, and the tissues around them, such as the tooth trough bones and the rims, take time to adapt to the new position, as if the crooked tree had to be straight and fixed for a while, otherwise the wind would easily fall back。
Without maintenance, the tissue surrounding the teeth is not stable, and there is a risk of a slow relapsing, with large gaps and minor turning of teeth。
How long do you need to wear the maintenance
The time spent on the maintainer depends on age, the extent of the original defect in the teeth, the difficulty of correction, etc., and can be broadly classified into three categories:
1. Short-term intensive wear (1-6 months)
The first half of the year, when a tooth was removed, was the most prone stage to relapse. This is a time for high intensity:
It is worn during the day and at night (except for meals and brushing of teeth) for as long as 22 hours per day。
The aim is to lock up the new position of the teeth and allow the thongs to adapt quickly。
Medium-term phase-down (6 months - 2 years)
After an intensive period, the wear time can be reduced slowly, depending on the doctor's assessment:
Replace it with nightly, daytime and guaranteed 8-10 hours a day。
It is then gradually reduced to two to three times a week, depending on the stability of the teeth。
After correction, young people may need to wear two years of solid effects because their bones are still developing。
3. Long-term maintenance (2 years or more)
For adults, the stability of teeth and bones is relatively poor and the risk of relapse is higher. Doctors may suggest:
Even after two years, it would be preferable to maintain the habit of wearing one or two nights per week, especially for people with congested teeth。
Such low-frequency maintenance is not a lifetime full-time service, but it can effectively prevent minor shifts after many years。
Is it really going to last forever
In fact, the doctor said it might take a long time, not to wear it 24 hours a day, but to stress that dental correction does not have an absolute end。
Just like our skins are lax with age, the teeth can change slowly by biting hard, growing intellectual teeth, bad habits, etc. Long-term low-frequency maintenance devices, more like dental insurance, take very little time to avoid years of rectification。
In clinical terms, there are only a few special cases (e. G. Severe tooth reversals, persons with dental ecstasy) that may require longer wear, but they may hardly require a lifetime。
I'll give you three little advices
Don't stop. Don't wear your teeth when they're steady. A lot of people stop wearing it for three months and they find a transfer of teeth, and they even need to recreate the maintainer. Make sure you check with the doctor before you stop。
Cleaning: maintainer washes with water or special detergents on a daily basis, avoiding hot water burning (deforming), otherwise bacteria and alienated。
Do not delay: contact the doctor as soon as possible to recreate if the maintenance is lost or broken. The longer the delay, the more the teeth move, the more corrective adjustment may be required。
At the end of the day, the maintainer wears long, essentially racing with the teeth. It is worth it rather than be worn for the rest of your life, as long-term maintenance after correction, to spend a little more time with a full tooth。
