When perfect results don’t last

Let’s talk about the retention phase and its importance in orthodontic treatment.

We would like to share a clinical case that clearly shows how important this stage is, even when everything seems to go perfectly.

The patient completed treatment (15 steps), a good and stable result was achieved, and the case moved to the retention phase. On the photo above, you can see the before and after — the final occlusion based on which the retainers were made.

However, one year later, the patient returned. During her pregnancy, she was not able to wear removable retainers, and fixed retainers had not been placed initially. As a result, a relapse occurred and re-treatment was required.

This case is another strong argument in favor of a combined retention approach: fixed retainer + night-time wear of a removable retainer.

While this approach may make oral hygiene more challenging, it provides greater confidence in the long-term stability of the result.

What retention strategy do you usually choose?