Orthodontic retention protocols have changed extensively over time. Nowadays, the use of long-term retainers is widely accepted in the orthodontic profession. However, retention procedures diverge substantially from one geographic area of the world to another. Given that in many countries, about half of the population is offered orthodontic treatment, maintainability of orthodontic treatment achievements on a lifelong basis becomes a society issue. To prevent orthodontic relapse, orthodontists need failure-free retainers that help minimizing post-treatment changes, without causing unwanted and detrimental side effects. Which evidence do we have? What do we know in terms of orthodontic stability in relation to the type of retainer? How often do retainers fail? This lecture will place these questions into perspective based on an overview of the literature. The lecture will give a detailed panorama of retention strategies, thus assisting the clinician in their retention protocol selection.
Learning Objectives:
After this session, attendees will be able to:
Gain awareness of the main evidence-based retention protocols in clinical practice.
Outline an overview of the survival and failure rates of different types of retainers.
Gain a perspective of long-term stability of orthodontic treatments, based on the latest available evidence.
