Your braces have just been removed, but your orthodontic treatment is not quite finished. Retention is the final, indispensable step in ensuring that your teeth stay in their new position. Without it, recurrence is almost inevitable. Ares Dental will see you through to the end, in Mamer and Strassen. +352 26 31 35 17 Retention follow-up by appointment.
Why restraint is essential
To correct these malpositions, and fit braces in the orthodontic practice, the practitioner begins by performing a clinical examination. The orthodontic practitioner draws up a treatment plan in consultation (estimate) with the patient, after studying additional documents such as:c
Together, practitioner and patient ensure the success of the treatment, because whether it’s orthodontic splints, custom adult orthodontics or children’s braces, perfect collaboration is essential.
To ensure that your Luxembourg orthodontic treatment goes as smoothly as possible, the following 4 points are essential:
Fixed retention wire: This is the reference solution.
Removable splint
Recommended protocol: The best protection against recurrence is to combine the two devices: compression wire + night splint.
Here’s why: If the wire comes loose on a tooth (which can happen), the splint acts as a safety net, holding the teeth in position until your next appointment. Without emergency mouthpieceit only takes a few days for a tooth to start moving. Conversely, if you lose your splint, the wire provides continuous support. The two devices complement and support each other.
Child / growing adolescent Adult (growth complete) : Complex cases or large movements
Minimum 1 to 2 years after removal Indefinitely – ideally for life
Extended duration, reinforced follow-up: There is no universal rule. Your orthodontist at Ares Dental adapts the protocol to your clinical situation, your age and the complexity of your initial treatment.
Brush after each meal with a brush with a compact head and soft bristles, and pass interdental brushes around the wire.
Regular checks ensure that the wire is intact and that no teeth start to move. With a removable mouthpiece: rinse with cold water after each wear, and clean daily with a soft brush. Never eat with the tray in place. Always store it in its box to avoid losing or breaking it.
Immediately put on your safety gutter if you have one. Don’t pull on the wire or try to reattach it yourself. Contact the practice promptly every day without a retainer is a risk of tooth movement.
Lost your gutter?
Contact us as soon as possible to have a new one made. If you have a retention wire, it provides temporary support, but the splint remains essential for long-term safety. In the event of discomfort caused by a pointy wire, an orthodontic eraser available from your pharmacy can protect your tongue while you wait for your appointment.
Social networks are full of advertisements for gutters ordered online, without consultation or follow-up, and at very attractive prices.
Paid influencers promote it as a miracle solution. The medical reality is quite different. Without prior clinical assessment, professional impressions and orthodontic follow-up, these devices can move teeth in the wrong direction, aggravate an existing malocclusion, and create irreversible bone and joint damage.
An influencer earns a commission for sponsoring you. An orthodontist takes medical responsibility for treating you. Don’t trust the stability of your smile to an algorithm.
For adults: ideally for life, at least as long as the results need to be maintained. For adolescents: at least 1 to 2 years after removal of the appliance, often longer.
No. The compression wire causes no pain. The splint may create slight pressure for the first few days, but this soon disappears.
This is a common occurrence. If you have a mouthpiece, wear it immediately and contact us as soon as possible. Without a retainer, teeth can start to move in just a few days.
Braces are generally part of the orthodontic treatment protocol. Coverage depends on your CNS file and your complementary mutual insurance. Please contact our administrative team for more information.
