The Ultimate Retainer Guide: Protecting Your Smile Long Term
Why teeth can shift after treatment and how a clear retention plan helps protect the result.
Dr. Sarah Chen
Lead Orthodontist
Finishing clear aligner treatment is a major step, but retention is what keeps the result stable. Teeth can shift because periodontal fibers and surrounding bone need time to settle after movement. This is known as post-treatment relapse. To protect your alignment, we recommend a clear thermoformed retainer. Most patients wear it 22 hours a day at first, then move to night-time wear once the supervising doctor confirms the case is stable.
Clear aligner treatment works best when tooth movements are planned in small, controlled stages. Vélourcare Ortho aligners are hand-finished to support comfort and reduce avoidable soft-tissue irritation.
Before starting treatment, we recommend a full intraoral scan and periodontal review to confirm that the teeth and supporting tissues are ready for movement.