Post-treatment changes in tooth position are a fact of life for orthodontists. Patients, however, often have different expectations and their satisfaction with their orthodontic treatment often hinges on the prolonged retention of that treatment. (Put stats on lifelong retention of ortho work here) Patients invest a considerable amount of time and money into their orthodontic treatment and expect the results to be stable for years. As a result, retention and relapse are currently being heavily researched. Orthodontic relapse is any change from the final tooth position at the conclusion of the active phase of treatment – often, but not always, a return to the pre-treatment conditions of the teeth. (cite Retention here?) The precise cause of orthodontic relapse is not completely understood and little evidence from randomized clinical trials has been gathered. Most likely the results are from a combination of several etiologies including periodontal and gingival factors, occlusal factors, soft tissue pressures, and growth-related changes. Orthodontic corrections have to persist in a dynamic environment of continuing skeletal changes, …show more content…
functional demands, and compensatory adaptations of the dentition, and it is the biomechanical influences of this dynamic environment that can result in relapse.
The periodontium needs time to remodel after orthodontic tooth movement. On average, the collagen fibers of the PDL remodel after 3-4 months. (cite) However, the supracrestal gingival fibers require at least 8 months to reorganize (cite), so orthodontists generally recommend wearing a retainer full-time for one year before switching to night-time only wear. Another approach to preventing relapse due to periodontal and gingival factors is a procedure called pericision which involves surgically severing the supracrestal fibers. Pericision, or circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy, has been used in cases such as rotational correction in which these fibers are stressed and may reduce the amount of rotational relapse by 30% with no adverse effects on the health of the periodontal ligament.
Retention and Relapse in Orthodontics
Post-treatment changes in tooth position are a fact of life for orthodontists. Patients, however, often have different expectations and their satisfaction with their orthodontic treatment often hinges on the prolonged retention of that treatment. (Put stats on lifelong retention of ortho work here) Patients invest a considerable amount of time and money into their orthodontic treatment and expect the results to be stable for years. As a result, retention and relapse are currently being heavily researched. Orthodontic relapse is any change from the final tooth position at the conclusion of the active phase of treatment – often, but not always, a return to the pre-treatment conditions of the teeth.
(cite Retention here?) The precise cause of orthodontic relapse is not completely understood and little evidence from randomized clinical trials has been gathered. Most likely the results are from a combination of several etiologies including periodontal and gingival factors, occlusal factors, soft tissue pressures, and growth-related changes. Orthodontic corrections have to persist in a dynamic environment of continuing skeletal changes, functional demands, and compensatory adaptations of the dentition, and it is the biomechanical influences of this dynamic environment that can result in
relapse.
The periodontium needs time to remodel after orthodontic tooth movement. On average, the collagen fibers of the PDL remodel after 3-4 months. (cite) However, the supracrestal gingival fibers require at least 8 months to reorganize (cite), so orthodontists generally recommend wearing a retainer full-time for one year before switching to night-time only wear. Another approach to preventing relapse due to periodontal and gingival factors is a procedure called pericision which involves surgically severing the supracrestal fibers. Pericision, or circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy, has been used in cases such as rotational correction in which these fibers are stressed and may reduce the amount of rotational relapse by 30% with no adverse effects on the health of the periodontal ligament.