ORTHOBITES Fig. 29 “If you tell someone their teeth may move if they do not wear their retainers – and they don’t – and the teeth move – it is their responsibility, not your fault.” Fig. 31 Fig. 30 of phase I, place a FRLA, watch for the posterior teeth to exfoliate at recall visits, and discuss phase II at the right time. This approach is a “Win–” for your practice. The parents do not feel taken advantage of and it is simply the right thing to do. It keeps/retains the family in your prac-tice and it is a huge practice builder. 14 January/February 2013 JAOS PHASE II Retention Now let’s switch gears into Phase II Retention. When I treat a Phase II case (orthodontics) or basically a person with a full dentition with a straightwire series, I always include in my treatment plan (and usually high-light in red) that “Retention is Forever”. I further explain to and reit-erate to the patient that if they want their teeth perfectly straight the rest of their life, they must wear retainers at least at night. This is for obvious reasons. One, teeth have periodontal ligaments, the ligament on the malposed teeth while stretched, to not migrate completely. Therefore, the more malposed the teeth are, the more chance relapse will occur. This is seen more often in anterior teeth due to their anatomy. I do offer a fibrotomy on each tooth, but so far I have had no takers. A second reason for retention forever is more a common sense reason. If you tell someone their teeth may move if they do not wear their retainers – and they don’t – and the teeth move – it is their responsibility, not your fault. My favorite retention and what I teach in my courses is an upper QCM
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society January-February 2013: Page 14
