What are retainers supposed to do?

Question

after braces.

Answer 1

  To retain, or hold your teeth in their new position to give the teeth time to get reset in the gums.  Without them your teeth will just go crooked again.

Answer 2

Hello...Well , the name actually say's it all...retainers are designed to do one thing..."Retain"...Once your teeth are realigned and the braces come off the Retainer will keep the teeth in the new position as long as you wear it for the number of hours per day you are instructed to wear it. Know this, in the tooth socket their are tiny little ligaments and muscles that attach between the socket wall and the body of the tooth. When the teeth get realigned those little ligaments and muscles get stretched and twisted and they will "never" be totally happy with the new position they have been forced to move to...So, if you fail to wear the Retainer as required, those little ligaments and muscles will pull the tooth back to it's old position and you will have wasted your time and money by having worn the braces in the first lace...."Wear" your retainer...Good luck and I wish you well.

Answer 3

A fixed or removable appliance worn after the braces are removed.  A removable retainer attaches to your upper and/or lower teeth and holds them in their finished positions. From http://www.braces.org/knowmore/glossary/

Otherwise known as keeping the teeth in place from moving.

Hope that helps!

JAMRDH - a dental hygienist