Orthotown March 2016 - (Page 40)

retention // special section Reasonable Approach to "Lifetime" Retention How do you educate your patients on retention? Orthotown.com > Message Boards > Clinical Topic > Clinical Orthodontics > Reasonable Approach to "Lifetime" Retention Goodmany2k Member Since: 11/12/09 Post: 1 of 8 Related Message Boards Retention in Orthodontics Retention Retention for Openbites? Retention Openbites Most of us are asked almost every day, "And how long do I (does he) have to wear the retainer?" I'm not going to get into a debate on bonded retainers versus removables, but most of us-at least in the upper arch-rely on the patient's cooperation in using a removable retainer. We usually answer the question with, "You wear the retainer for as long as you want to have straight teeth," and this has been my answer for the last couple of years. Often you'll have a mom say, "Well, I stopped wearing my retainer and my teeth still look good." And teeth can indeed look fine without retainers. But rarely will they look spectacularly aligned at age 40 (without the help of restorations). So I think we have to educate patients and parents on the difference between a smile with ideal alignment and function, versus one that looks natural and decent. "Imagine your son at age 50 with a smile like he has today." Some people understand that with aging comes a decline in how we look, and others work to stave that off. Wearing a retainer is about the easiest modality used to fight off decline. ■ FEB 1 2015 zxzxzx Member Since: 02/28/03 Post: 2 of 8 Unless there is a particular problem with the upper teeth, like a diastema or very small laterals, the key to long-term stability is a fi xed lower 3-3 bonded just to the 3's, constructed from a model. I have many, many of those out there on adults. It is a real treat to do a new-patient exam and have the parent ask if I remember him and then tell me I treated him 20 years ago. I ask him to show me his teeth and when they look good (most of the time) I ask if he still has a lower retainer. He virtually always does. Then I go into my mini spiel about a lower 3-3 being the "world's best retainer." All you need is normal OB/OJ at the end, and the lower is the long-term solution to overall stability. ■ FEB 1 2015 Goodmany2k Member Since: 11/12/09 Post: 3 of 8 If a patient comes back after two years with a loose lower 3x3, we charge an "office visit" to re-cement it. In our office, that fee is currently $120. Usually it amounts to re-cementing one side (we only bond the cuspids). We always tell them to keep the wire if it comes out and bring it back with them. If we have to make a new one, which is very rare, there is likely to be an additional fee. If it's less than two years old, I don't charge. ■ FEB 1 2015 Join the discussion online at: www.orthotown.com Lifetime Retention 40 MARCH 2016 // orthotown.com http://www.Orthotown.com http://www.orthotown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?a=11&s=6&f=693&t=216496&g=1 http://www.orthotown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?a=11&s=6&f=693&t=173048&g=1 http://www.orthotown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?a=11&s=6&f=693&t=242583&g=1 http://www.orthotown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Orthotown March 2016

Orthotown.com Highlights
Embrace Progress: Organizing the Digital Office
Wired for Success: Google Voice: The Future of Patient Communication
Welcome, Dr. Edmund Khoo, to the Orthotown Advisory Board!
Industry News
Simplifi ed Correction of Class II Using PowerScope
Looking Toward the Social Media Horizon
What’s On Your Tray? Tray for Bonding Brackets
Herbst Fixed Functional Treatment for a Severe Class II
I’ve Done a Tongue Guard … Now What?
Modern-Day Retention
Retainer Clasps
Message Board: Retention
New Products
Software Showcase
Product Profile: Burleson
Poll
How to Manage Overhead Percentages in the Practice
Ad Index

Orthotown March 2016