Retention and care after post-orthodontic restorations
Completing tooth shape and maintaining tooth position are different goals.
On this page
Does composite replace retention?
No. A restorative addition changes tooth shape; retention helps maintain the position achieved through orthodontics. Teeth can move over time. Continue wearing retainers as directed by your orthodontist, including after restorative treatment. [1]
Will the old retainer still fit?
A change in tooth shape can affect the fit of an existing removable retainer. The team should check it and decide whether adjustment or replacement is needed. Do not force an ill-fitting retainer or stop retention on your own: contact the clinician for a plan.
What maintenance can composite need?
Reviews assess integrity, margins, surface quality and contacts. Polishing, local repair or replacement may be appropriate depending on the defect. The five-year follow-up by Frese and colleagues examines composite additions and adverse events; it is not a lifespan guarantee. [2]
Retainer or bruxism appliance?
Their purposes differ: maintaining tooth position versus managing loading in selected circumstances. These appliances are not automatically interchangeable. If both are recommended, ask your clinicians to coordinate their design and wearing schedule.
When should I return?
Follow your individual review schedule and seek assessment for a chip, changed contact or a retainer that no longer fits. Cleaning and monitoring remain necessary even when a restoration looks good.
Clinical sources
- British Orthodontic Society. Retainers — patient information.
- Frese C et al. Recontouring teeth and closing diastemas with direct composite buildups: a 5-year follow-up. 2013.
Further reading
- Ritter AV, Boushell LW, Walter R (eds.). Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry. 7th ed. Elsevier, 2019.
- Aschheim KW (ed.). Esthetic Dentistry: A Clinical Approach to Techniques and Materials. 3rd ed. Mosby, 2015.
Editions from the proposed bibliography published after 2012. Books are listed for further reading; the explanations link to the accessible clinical studies and information above.
The information on this page is general and educational. It does not replace a medical consultation, and a treatment recommendation can only be made after examining each patient. Results differ from one case to another.
More about treatment
Post-orthodontic rehabilitation
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Every treatment begins with a diagnosis: clinical examination, photographs, radiographs and, where relevant, an occlusal analysis. Only then do we discuss options.