ORTHODONTIC RETENTION- A REVIEW.

Abstract

After the teeth have been corrected orthodontically and malocclusion has been relieved the job of orthodontist is not over. The active phase of treatment is to be followed up with a passive phase in which corrected positions of teeth needs to be maintained after treatment and is often the most challenging part of an orthodontic treatment plan. Hence, a phase of retention is normally required after orthodontic tooth movement which may be in the form of removable or fixed retainer wear. In this review article, we have discussed about the importance of retention protocols and patient education regarding the same to ensure that the patient is in the know how of the care that is expected from him at the end of the active orthodontic phase.