Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
Anyone who wore braces as a teenager remembers the thrill of the braces being removed, revealing a perfectly aligned smile. It can be very disappointing if, years after orthodontic treatment, the teeth begin to shift or move back to their original, misaligned positions. This is called oral relapse, and it can have several factors. Follow along today as our cosmetic dentist in Santa Cruz explains what causes oral relapse and how you can prevent or treat it.
Why do teeth move?
Teeth gradually shift over time due to factors like:
- Age — The jawbone tends to narrow with age, which can lead to tooth crowding.
- Everyday wear and pressure — Chewing and biting put pressure on the teeth, sometimes causing the teeth to move.
But what causes teeth to shift after orthodontic treatment?
Not using a retainer as recommended by our Scotts Valley dentist is the most common reason for oral relapse. After braces, wearing a retainer keeps the teeth in their new and improved places. When someone doesn’t use the retainer as prescribed, it can cause the teeth to shift. But teeth can shift post-treatment for other reasons, too, including:
- Bruxism
The clenching or grinding of teeth — also known as bruxism — creates a lot of pressure on the teeth, sometimes causing them to move.
- Orofacial myofunctional disorders (OMDs)
OMDs are caused when the muscles of the orofacial system — including the mouth and tongue — don’t rest in their proper positions. People with OMDs may unconsciously develop bad oral habits — such as improper swallowing and mouth-breathing — that can cause teeth to shift and negatively impact oral health and development. Teeth may also shift because of tongue thrusting, thumb-sucking and/or tongue-tie.
- Wisdom teeth
When wisdom teeth erupt, they can create pressure in the back of the mouth, pushing other teeth out of alignment.
How do I prevent my teeth from shifting after orthodontic treatment?
- Consistently wear your retainer.
- Rule out OMDs or have them treated.
- Visit our Los Gatos dentist’s office on your scheduled visits every six months so we can monitor your oral health and intervene early in any potential oral health issues.
Can crooked teeth be corrected?
Teeth that have shifted can be corrected again, and if it’s been a while since your original orthodontic treatment, you may be surprised to learn how much dental technology has improved the orthodontics game. Invisalign, for instance, straightens teeth in usually half the time it takes traditional braces and without the awkwardness, since Invisalign uses a series of clear, discreet aligners.
Orthodontic treatment in Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz and Los Gatos, California
It’s best to prevent the possibility of teeth shifting back to their original misaligned positions by wearing the retainer you’ll receive at the end of orthodontic treatment. However, if it’s already too late for that and you notice your teeth are shifting after wearing braces when you were younger, reach out to us at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry so we can discuss options with you. Call us at (831) 824-5111, or reach out to us online today.
