12.08.2025
The retainer is not an accessory
Teeth have a memory. The fibres in the periodontium keep pulling in the old direction for years after treatment, and the jaw changes throughout life – even without a brace. A result that is not held will shift.
It is held either by a wire bonded behind the front teeth or by a removable splint worn at night. Both approaches work; the bonded retainer demands less discipline, but regular checks, because a spot that has come loose otherwise takes effect unnoticed.
Today the recommendation is no longer “two years”, but: for as long as the result is meant to last. That is more honest and gets to the heart of the matter.
So factor the follow-up care in from the very beginning – in time and in money. It is the cheapest part of the treatment and the one most often skimped on.