If you are an adult with crooked teeth, then you may be extremely frustrated by the poor appearance of your teeth. If this is true, then clear aligners like Invisalign orthodontics can work for you. You should know that you will need to wear your last set of aligners or a dedicated retainer for up to one year after your last set of clear braces. This is meant to prevent something called orthodontic relapse. Keep reading to learn more about this.

What Is Orthodontic Relapse?

Orthodontic relapse is the term used to describe the shifting of the teeth after an orthodontic treatment. Basically, the teeth move back to a crooked position, and they are likely to appear similar to the way they did at the end or middle of your treatment period. This happens for several different reasons.

One reason for the shift is the fact that the bone surrounding the teeth is not able to solidify before you stop wearing your clear aligners. Soft bone is susceptible to shifting due to the way you bite, chew, thrust your tongue, or grind the teeth. If pressure is placed on one or several areas of the jaw, then the teeth may continue to move. 

Another issue is that the dental ligaments that keep the teeth secured in the jaw tend to shift back to their original position over time. The tissues have a "memory" that makes them want to pull the teeth back where they came from. These ligaments can settle into their new position and retain their "stretch" but this does take time. Like other ligaments in the body, it can take months for the tissues to build up with new collagen.

How Can Relapse Be Prevented?

Orthodontic relapse can be prevented by following your orthodontist's instructions and wearing your retainer or final set of aligners at night. Nighttime wear should occur every night from the time that your treatment stops and onward. You should not stop wearing the retainer, even though this is something that most people do.

You also should meet with your orthodontist at least once a year. The professional can track small changes. This indicates a relapse issue and aligners can be made to shift the teeth slightly if there is a need. Basically, the professional can make one or several sets of finishing aligners for you, like he did when you were finishing up your treatment. 

If for some reason you are opposed to wearing a typical sort of  retainer, there are some different types of appliances that can be offered, like ones with a wire that extends along the outside or inside of the arch. Make sure to ask your orthodontist about this.