The day has finally arrived. Dr Pratik Sharma removes your final aligner or carefully detaches the last bracket from your teeth. You run your tongue over your perfectly smooth, beautifully straight teeth for the first time in months or years. Your smile transformation is complete. The relief and excitement are palpable—you did it!
But here’s the crucial truth that every orthodontic patient needs to understand: active treatment completion is not the end of your orthodontic journey—it’s the beginning of the retention phase. Without proper retention, teeth have a natural tendency to shift back towards their original positions, potentially undoing months of careful treatment. This phenomenon, called orthodontic relapse, is preventable, but only with the right knowledge and commitment.
At The London Smile Clinic in London’s West End, Dr Pratik Sharma—a GDC-registered Specialist in Orthodontics—provides comprehensive retention protocols backed by the clinic’s industry-exclusive 10-year guarantee. Over 25 years and more than 25,000 smile straightening cases, the practice has refined retention strategies that help patients maintain their beautiful results for life.
In this essential guide, we’ll explore the five crucial steps to keeping your smile straight forever, why retention matters so profoundly, and how to protect the significant investment you’ve made in your smile.
Why Teeth Naturally Want to Shift Back
Understanding why retention is necessary begins with understanding the biology of tooth movement and the memory-like tendency of teeth to return to their original positions.
The biological reality of orthodontic relapse:
- Periodontal ligament memory: The periodontal ligament—the tissue connecting your tooth roots to the surrounding bone—has a “memory” of the tooth’s previous position. This tissue wants to pull teeth back towards where they started
- Gingival (gum) fibres: Elastic fibres in your gums that were stretched during tooth movement maintain tension for months or even years, creating forces that can shift teeth back
- Bone remodelling continues: After active treatment, the bone around your teeth continues remodelling for 6-12 months. During this period, teeth are particularly vulnerable to shifting
- Natural dental changes: Throughout life, teeth naturally tend to shift slightly forward and crowd as you age, regardless of whether you’ve had orthodontic treatment
- Functional forces: The daily forces of biting, chewing, and tongue pressure can gradually shift teeth over time
This isn’t a failure of orthodontic treatment—it’s simply biology. Every orthodontic patient, regardless of age or complexity of treatment, faces these same biological forces. The difference between patients who maintain perfect results and those who experience relapse is almost entirely about retention compliance.
Dr Sharma’s specialist training includes in-depth study of retention biology and protocols. His evidence-based approach to retention is informed by decades of research showing which strategies produce the most stable, long-term results.
Step #1: Understand Your Personalised Retention Plan
Not all retention plans are identical. Dr Sharma creates customised retention protocols based on your specific orthodontic situation, the complexity of your treatment, and your individual risk factors for relapse.
Types of retainers:
Fixed (bonded) retainers:
- A thin wire bonded to the back surface of your front teeth (typically lower front six teeth, sometimes upper as well)
- Provides continuous, permanent retention without requiring patient compliance
- Particularly valuable for cases with severe initial crowding or rotations
- Requires careful cleaning around the wire but otherwise invisible and unobtrusive
Removable retainers:
- Clear plastic retainers (similar in appearance to Invisalign aligners) or traditional wire-and-acrylic retainers
- Worn according to a prescribed schedule (initially full-time, transitioning to nights-only)
- Can be removed for eating, special occasions, and cleaning
- Requires patient discipline to wear consistently
Combination approach:
- Fixed retainer on lower front teeth for continuous retention where relapse risk is highest
- Removable retainer for upper teeth worn at night
- Offers the best balance of security and practicality for many patients
During your final appointment at The London Smile Clinic, Dr Sharma will explain your specific retention plan in detail. You’ll understand exactly what type of retainers you’re receiving, how to wear them, how to clean them, and what schedule to follow. This transparency ensures you’re fully empowered to protect your results.
Step #2: Commit to Consistent Retainer Wear (Compliance Is Everything)
This is the most critical step, and it cannot be emphasized enough: retention success is almost entirely dependent on patient compliance. No matter how expertly your orthodontic treatment was delivered, if you don’t wear your retainers as prescribed, your teeth will shift.
The retention wear schedule:
Phase 1: Initial retention (First 3-6 months)
- Removable retainers should be worn full-time (22 hours per day), removing only for eating and cleaning
- This is the most critical period when your bone and soft tissues are still adapting to tooth positions
- Non-compliance during this phase can lead to rapid, significant relapse
Phase 2: Night-time retention (6 months to 2 years)
- Transition to wearing retainers only at night (typically 8-10 hours while sleeping)
- Teeth have stabilized significantly but still require consistent support
- Many patients remain in this phase indefinitely
Phase 3: Long-term retention (Lifelong)
- Continue night-time retainer wear indefinitely—ideally for life
- Some patients can reduce to 3-4 nights per week after several years, but nightly wear is safest
- Think of retainers like contact lenses: you use them consistently to maintain the correction
“The patients who maintain perfect results are the ones who embrace that retainers are forever,” Dr Sharma explains. “Orthodontic treatment creates the beautiful alignment, but retainers keep it there. It’s a small commitment for a lifetime benefit.”
The consequences of non-compliance:
Patients who stop wearing retainers—even years after treatment—often experience shifting within weeks or months. The degree of relapse varies, but some patients lose so much alignment that they require retreatment. This is heartbreaking and entirely preventable.
The London Smile Clinic’s 10-year guarantee on cosmetic dentistry reflects the practice’s confidence in its work, but this guarantee requires patients to follow retention protocols. Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith, the clinic’s founder, established this guarantee understanding that with proper retention, results remain stable and beautiful indefinitely.
Step #3: Care for Your Retainers Properly
Retainers can only protect your smile if they remain in good condition and hygienically clean. Proper retainer care is straightforward but essential.
Daily cleaning routine:
For removable retainers:
- Rinse retainers every time you remove them
- Brush retainers gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap or non-abrasive toothpaste daily
- Soak retainers in denture cleaner or specialized retainer cleaning solution weekly
- Never use hot water, which can warp plastic retainers
- Store retainers in their protective case when not wearing them
For fixed retainers:
- Use interdental brushes or floss threaders to clean under the retainer wire daily
- Pay particular attention to prevent plaque buildup around the bonded areas
- Attend regular hygienist appointments—professional cleaning is crucial with fixed retainers
- Check daily that the wire remains securely bonded; notify the clinic immediately if it feels loose
Retainer longevity and replacement:
Removable retainers typically last 2-5 years with proper care before needing replacement. Signs your retainer needs replacing include:
- Cracks or tears in the plastic
- Looseness or poor fit
- Clouding or persistent odour despite cleaning
- Visible wear or distortion
The London Smile Clinic provides clear guidance about retainer replacement, and the team is available to fabricate new retainers when needed. Some patients proactively order spare retainers to have a backup—a wise strategy that ensures continuous retention even if a retainer is lost or damaged.
Step #4: Attend Retention Check-Ups
Whilst retention is largely the patient’s responsibility, periodic professional monitoring is valuable for catching early signs of shifting before they become problematic.
What retention check-ups involve:
- Visual inspection: Dr Sharma examines your bite relationship and tooth alignment to ensure stability
- Retainer assessment: Checking that your retainers fit properly and haven’t worn excessively
- Oral health review: Ensuring you’re maintaining excellent oral hygiene around retainers, particularly fixed retainers
- Compliance discussion: Honest conversation about whether you’re wearing retainers as prescribed
- Early intervention: If minor shifting is detected, adjustments can be made before significant relapse occurs
Recommended retention check schedule:
- 6 months after treatment completion
- 12 months after treatment completion
- Annually thereafter, or as recommended by Dr Sharma
These appointments are typically brief and straightforward, but they provide invaluable peace of mind. Early detection of any shifting allows for simple interventions—perhaps adjusting your wear schedule or fabricating new retainers—rather than requiring retreatment.
The London Smile Clinic’s culture of long-term patient relationships means you’re welcomed back for retention check-ups years after your active treatment. The practice’s 25-year history includes patients who return regularly for retention monitoring, maintaining the beautiful smiles they achieved years or even decades earlier.
Step #5: Plan for Lifelong Retention (Long-Term Perspective and Habits)
The final essential step is embracing a long-term perspective on retention. This isn’t a phase you complete and move beyond—it’s a permanent commitment to maintaining your smile.
Building retention into your life routine:
Make it automatic:
- Place your retainer case next to your toothbrush as a visual reminder
- Wear retainers at the same time each day (e.g., always put them in right after brushing teeth before bed)
- Set a phone reminder if needed during the initial habit-building phase
Plan for life events:
- Pack retainers first when traveling (keep them in your hand luggage, never checked baggage)
- Bring a retainer case to restaurants and events where you might need to remove them briefly
- If you’ll be away from home overnight, ensure retainers come with you
Manage the costs:
- Budget for retainer replacement every few years
- Consider retainer replacement as routine maintenance, like replacing glasses or contact lenses
- Remember that retainer replacement costs are minimal compared to the cost of orthodontic retreatment
Educate your family:
- If you have children, model good retention compliance—they’ll learn from your example
- Help teenagers understand that retention is non-negotiable for maintaining their results
Dr Sharma’s patient-centred approach includes honest conversations about the lifelong nature of retention. Rather than sugarcoating this reality, he empowers patients with understanding: “When you embrace that retainers are a permanent part of your oral health routine—like brushing and flossing—compliance becomes effortless. Patients who view retention as temporary often struggle. Those who see it as lifelong maintain perfect results.”
The 10-Year Guarantee: What It Means for Retention
The London Smile Clinic’s industry-exclusive 10-year guarantee on cosmetic dentistry is a powerful testament to the practice’s confidence in its work and its commitment to long-term patient satisfaction. However, this guarantee is explicitly linked to retention compliance.
How the guarantee works:
The 10-year guarantee covers the quality and durability of cosmetic dental work, providing patients with extraordinary peace of mind. However, the guarantee requires patients to:
- Wear retainers as prescribed
- Attend recommended retention check-ups
- Maintain good oral hygiene
- Address any issues promptly rather than allowing them to worsen
This isn’t about creating loopholes to avoid responsibility—it’s about acknowledging the partnership between clinician expertise and patient compliance. Dr Bradstock-Smith established this guarantee in 1999 because he knew that with proper retention and care, the clinic’s work would remain beautiful and functional for decades.
The very existence of this guarantee should reassure you: The London Smile Clinic is so confident in the quality of its orthodontic work that it’s willing to stand behind it for a decade. This confidence is well-founded—patients who follow retention protocols overwhelmingly maintain excellent results far beyond the 10-year mark.
What Happens If You Notice Shifting
Despite best intentions, some patients experience minor shifting, whether due to temporary non-compliance, retainer breakage, or simply the passage of many years. The key is addressing shifting as soon as you notice it.
Early signs your teeth may be shifting:
- Your retainer feels tighter than usual when you insert it
- You notice small gaps appearing or teeth feeling slightly crooked
- Your bite feels different
- Your retainer no longer fits properly
What to do:
Contact The London Smile Clinic immediately. Dr Sharma can assess the degree of shifting and recommend appropriate intervention:
- Minor shifting: Often corrected by increasing retainer wear schedule or fabricating new retainers from your current position
- Moderate shifting: May require a short refinement with aligners (a few months) to recapture alignment
- Significant shifting: Could require more extensive retreatment
The earlier you address shifting, the simpler the solution. Patients who ignore shifting for years often require full retreatment. Those who contact Dr Sharma at the first sign of movement typically need only minor adjustments.
Your Beautiful Smile Is Worth Protecting
Orthodontic treatment represents a significant investment—of time, money, and emotional energy. You’ve committed months or years to achieving your beautiful, straight smile. The retention phase is your guarantee that this investment pays dividends for life.
The five essential steps—understanding your retention plan, committing to consistent wear, caring for retainers properly, attending check-ups, and embracing lifelong retention—are straightforward. They don’t require exceptional effort, just consistency and commitment. Think of retention like any other aspect of oral health: you brush and floss daily not because it’s exciting, but because you value your teeth. Retainers deserve the same prioritization.
At The London Smile Clinic, Dr Pratik Sharma’s specialist expertise, evidence-based retention protocols, and patient-centred approach ensure you’re fully equipped for retention success. The clinic’s 25-year history, over 25,000 completed cases, and industry-exclusive 10-year guarantee demonstrate a commitment to long-term patient satisfaction that extends far beyond active treatment.
Your smile transformation doesn’t end when braces come off—it continues through proper retention. With the right knowledge, commitment, and support, you can maintain your beautiful straight smile for life.
Protect your beautiful straight smile for life. If you have questions about retention, need new retainers, or want to schedule a retention check-up, contact Dr Pratik Sharma at The London Smile Clinic today. Call the West End practice or visit the website to ensure your smile stays beautifully straight forever.
