Treatment does not end when your braces or aligners come off. Retainers are how your result lasts a lifetime.
By Dr. Bernardo A. Caldas · May 22, 2026 · 3 min read
The day your braces or aligners come off is a milestone, but it is not the end of treatment. The tissues that hold your teeth in place need time to settle into their new positions, and retainers are how we protect everything you have achieved.
At first, retainers are worn most of the time. Over the months that follow, wear is gradually reduced to nighttime only, a quiet, simple habit that preserves your smile for years.
If retainers are set aside, teeth tend to drift. Even years after treatment, the natural tendency of teeth is to move. Consistent retainer wear is the single most important thing you can do to keep your result.
We are always here to check, adjust, or replace retainers as the years pass. Keeping your retainer comfortable and effective is part of caring for your smile for the long term.