Long-term Retention

  • You have been wearing your retainers full time now for 6 months and at night time for 6 months.
  • Do continue to wear your retainers at bed-time as your bone is still soft and your teeth will still move without them.
  • It is important to clean your teeth well before fitting your retainers.
  • There is increasing evidence that relapse can occur in growing young adults, so we strongly advise a further 6 months of night time wear.
  • Then wear them a minimum of 3 nights per week, e.g. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, until you have stopped growing.
  • This usually means 18 in girls and 21 in boys. Your own dentist should be able to advise you on this.
  • We suggest you self-monitor your own retainers indefinitely.
  • If relapse does occur, re-treatment is not available under the NHS.
  • A fee will be applicable if new retainers are required.