Metal Mouth Message Board

I was just wondering because im curious.

When your ortho has finished all the movements, do the braces have to stay on for like a month or two so everything is just so.

And then do you get them off and then the retainers.

I guess logic says to me that the braces stay on for another month or two to let the bone and tissue strengthen a bit before the braces come off.

So is there a settlement phase for braces, or are they wipped straight off.

no idea, bumping up the post

Thanks im also doing as you did and keep the post up im hoping someone can give me some info.

There is definitely a settlement phase. Two orthos I consulted with said this explicitly, that it's better to leave the braces on for a few months after your teeth are all in place, to help them "set". Retainers help to keep your teeth aligned, but braces do the very best job. So you don't want to whip them off too soon.

Retention is a big issue. Take it from me - I'm about to get my second round of braces at 44!

my ortho said he likes to "over correct" a bit, to make up for any potential backsliding.

I was wearing elastics right up until the day I got my braces off, so I didn't have a settlement phase!

I think it must depend on the case, because I'm getting mine removed soon and my ortho moved a back molar down at my last appt., and also closed up some gaps. I believe that most of my "settlement" phase will be done during the next 6 months of full-time retainer wear.

Kristyar0 wrote:I was wearing elastics right up until the day I got my braces off, so I didn't have a settlement phase!

Me too - in fact, I had a positioner the first 14 days of being brace free for additional fine tuning.

My dad had braces about 5 years ago and he said his "settling" phase was about 6 months of little to no movement. It makes sense to let the bone build up again, especially if you have to wait a week or so for your retainer once they come off - your teeth can move a lot in a week!