21/10/2026
Retainers ā”ļøā¬ļøā”ļøā¬ļøš¦·
Can we please have a serious conversation about retainers? Because I am going to be an absolute bossy boots about this one!
If you are not prepared to wear your retainers, please reconsider having orthodontic treatment in the first place.
You are investing your money, time, effort and patience into moving your teeth into carefully planned positions. We do the diagnosis, planning, monitoring and clinical work. We ask one very important thing of you in return. WEAR YOUR RETAINERS!
And I really do mean it.
Without retention, your teeth can move again. Not necessarily back to their original positions either. They may move into entirely new positions, leaving you with a completely different smile, and certainly not the one we spent months or years creating together.
At Smile Solutions, retention is a mandatory part of our orthodontic treatment planning. We discuss it before treatment begins, not when the braces come off. Our usual approach includes fixed retainers where appropriate, alongside removable retainers worn at night, with individual instructions and ongoing monitoring.
And this is not simply my opinion. Published research confirms that unwanted tooth movement after orthodontic treatment is a genuine concern, although the evidence has not established one universally superior retention protocol.
There is no sensible orthodontic treatment plan without a retention plan.
So please, wear your retainers. Look after them. Replace them when necessary. And if they stop fitting properly, contact your orthodontic team rather than forcing them into place.
We can do everything beautifully at our end, but we cannot wear your retainers for you!