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If you’ve ever thought, “My teeth were straight… why are they shifting again?” you’re not alone.

One of the most common frustrations adults and parents share is seeing teeth move after orthodontic treatment. Whether someone had braces as a teen or completed clear aligner treatment as an adult, relapse (teeth shifting back) is real, and it happens more often than most people realize.

What Is Orthodontic Relapse?

Orthodontic relapse is when teeth shift after treatment. It may look like:

• One lower front tooth becoming crooked again
• A gap reopening between front teeth
• The bite feeling “off” after treatment
• Teeth slowly rotating or overlapping over time

Sometimes relapse is minor and cosmetic. Other times it affects bite function and can lead to uneven wear or jaw issues.

Why Teeth Move After Braces or Aligners

Many patients assume orthodontic treatment “finishes the job forever.” But the truth is, your mouth is a living system.

Even after your teeth have been moved into perfect alignment, your body continues to apply forces that try to change them over time.

Here are the main reasons relapse occurs:

1. The Bone and Ligaments Need Time to Stabilize

Teeth aren’t set in concrete. They’re held in place by ligament fibers and surrounded by bone. When teeth move during orthodontics, the ligaments stretch and remodel, and the bone must rebuild around the teeth in their new position.

That stabilization process takes time. Without retention, teeth often drift toward their old positions.

2. The Tongue, Lips, and Cheeks Push on Teeth Every Day

Your teeth are constantly affected by:

• Tongue pressure
• Lip pressure
• Cheek pressure
• Swallowing patterns
• Mouth breathing
• Clenching or grinding

Even small daily forces can shift teeth over months and years, especially the lower front teeth.

3. Growth and Aging Continue (Even in Adults)

Many adults are surprised to learn that teeth can crowd more as they age, even if they had braces years ago. Natural changes include:

• Subtle jaw changes
• Teeth wearing down
• Changes in bite forces
• Gum and bone changes with aging

This is why some adults notice shifting in their 20s, 30s, or 40s, even after successful past orthodontics.

Do Wisdom Teeth Cause Teeth Shifting?

This is one of the most common myths in dentistry and orthodontics.

Wisdom teeth do NOT cause your front teeth to become crowded or crooked.

For years, people believed wisdom teeth “push” the other teeth forward, causing relapse. But research and clinical evidence do not support that idea. Wisdom teeth don’t have the ability to push your teeth forward like a bulldozer.

So why do so many people think wisdom teeth cause shifting?

Because wisdom teeth often erupt around the same time that many adults start noticing natural crowding changes in the front teeth. The timing overlaps, so wisdom teeth get blamed, but they are not the cause.

Bottom line: even if you have your wisdom teeth removed, your teeth can still shift without proper retention. That’s why orthodontists focus on retention, not wisdom teeth, to prevent relapse.

4. Retainers Are Not Optional

This is the biggest reason teeth relapse.

A retainer is not an “extra.” It is the part of treatment that keeps the result.

If retainers aren’t worn consistently, teeth will move. Often quickly.

5. Incomplete Bite Correction Can Increase Relapse Risk

Sometimes teeth look straight but the bite isn’t fully stable. When the bite isn’t properly balanced, teeth can be pushed out of position over time.

This is why orthodontic specialists focus heavily on function, not just cosmetic alignment.

How to Prevent Teeth From Shifting After Treatment

Here’s what works.

1. Wear Your Retainers As Directed

Most relapse happens because patients stop wearing retainers—or don’t wear them enough.

A common plan includes:

• Full-time retainer wear for the first few months (varies by case)
• Then night-time wear long-term

The key is consistency. If you stop wearing retainers for a period of time, teeth can shift enough that the retainer won’t even fit.

2. Replace Retainers Before They Wear Out

Retainers don’t last forever. Clear retainers can warp, crack, or loosen.

Signs you may need a new retainer:

• it feels looser than before
• it has cracks or bends
• you have to “force” it on
• teeth start shifting despite wearing it

The Bottom Line

Teeth shifting after braces or aligners is common, but it isn’t inevitable.

Orthodontic treatment is a process that includes both:

1. Straightening and correcting the bite
2. Keeping the results stable long-term with proper retention

If you protect your result with a smart retention plan, you can enjoy your smile for life.

For many years, adults with narrow upper jaws were told the same thing: jaw expansion isn’t possible without surgery. Traditional palate expanders worked well in children, but once growth was complete, options were limited.

Today, that has changed.

Advances in orthodontics now allow many adults to expand their upper jaw without surgery using a technique called MARPE, short for Miniscrew-Assisted Rapid Palatal Expansion. At Strouse Orthodontics, this is one of the ways we help adult patients who were previously told “nothing could be done.”

What Is MARPE?

MARPE is a type of orthodontic expander designed specifically for adults and older teens. Unlike traditional expanders that rely on teeth alone, MARPE uses small, temporary anchor screws placed in the bone of the palate. These anchors allow the appliance to apply force directly to the upper jaw, making true skeletal expansion possible even after growth has finished.

In simple terms, MARPE helps widen the upper jaw by working with the bone, not just tipping the teeth outward.

Why Traditional Expanders Don’t Work in Adults

In children, the two halves of the upper jaw are still connected by a flexible growth seam called the midpalatal suture. This allows traditional expanders to work easily.

In adults, that suture becomes more rigid over time. Traditional expanders in adults often result in:

• Tooth tipping instead of jaw expansion
• Gum recession or discomfort
• Unstable or short-term results

MARPE was developed to overcome these limitations by providing support directly from the bone.

Who May Be a Candidate for MARPE?

Not every adult needs jaw expansion, but MARPE can be helpful for patients with:

• A narrow upper jaw
• Crossbites (upper teeth biting inside the lower teeth)
• Severe crowding
• Airway or breathing concerns
• A history of being told surgery was the only option

A proper evaluation by an orthodontic specialist is essential. Success with MARPE depends on factors like age, bone density, and jaw anatomy—not just symptoms.

MARPE vs Jaw Surgery

For some adults, jaw surgery is still the best option. However, MARPE can sometimes reduce or eliminate the need for surgery, depending on the case.

The difference comes down to:

• How fused the jaw is
• How much expansion is needed
• Overall facial and bite goals

An orthodontic specialist can determine which approach is safest and most effective for long-term stability.

Why MARPE Requires a Specialist

MARPE is not a routine orthodontic procedure. It requires:

• Advanced diagnosis
• Understanding of skeletal vs dental expansion
• Interpretation of 3D imaging
• Careful appliance design and activation

General dentists typically do not diagnose transverse skeletal deficiencies or perform MARPE. This type of treatment falls squarely within the scope of orthodontic specialty care.

What Does MARPE Feel Like?

Most patients describe a feeling of pressure during activation, similar to traditional expanders. Some experience temporary soreness or nasal pressure early on, which usually resolves quickly. Because the appliance is anchored to bone, many patients find it more controlled and predictable than tooth-borne expanders.

The Bottom Line

Adult jaw expansion is no longer off the table. MARPE has opened the door for many adults who were once told their only option was surgery—or no treatment at all.

If you’ve been told you’re not a candidate for expansion, or if you’re struggling with crowding, bite issues, or breathing concerns, a specialist evaluation may reveal options you didn’t know existed.

One of the first questions patients and parents ask is: How long will braces or Invisalign take?

The truth is that treatment length can vary depending on the complexity of the case, the goals of treatment, and how well patients follow their instructions. At Strouse Orthodontics, our average treatment time is around 20 months, though orthodontic treatment typically ranges anywhere from 1 to 2 years.

What Affects Orthodontic Treatment Time?

There isn’t one exact answer for everyone. Several important factors influence how long treatment lasts:

1. Complexity of the Case

Mild crowding or spacing can sometimes be corrected in less than a year.

Moderate cases with bite correction often take 18–24 months.

Severe cases or those involving impacted teeth, jaw discrepancies, or surgical needs may take longer.

2. Treatment Goals

Some patients have very mild issues, while others need a fully corrected bite for long-term health and stability. A comprehensive treatment plan may take a little longer, but it provides the best lifelong results. Some patients that forgot to wear their retainer may only need 6 months of treatment to touch up their smile.

3. Patient Compliance

Compliance is one of the biggest factors in treatment success. This includes:

Wearing elastics as directed

Wearing clear aligners 20–22 hours per day if aligners are chosen

Keeping regular appointments

Following dietary and hygiene instructions with braces

Even small lapses in compliance can add months to treatment time. On the other hand, patients who follow instructions closely often finish faster than expected.

Braces vs. Invisalign: Is There a Difference in Treatment Time?

Many people assume Invisalign or clear aligners will be faster, but the timeline depends more on the case than the appliance. With an orthodontic specialist like Dr. Eric Strouse, who has extensive experience and lectures on clear aligner therapy, even complex cases can often be completed efficiently using aligners.

Both braces and aligners are effective tools, the difference is in the plan and how well the patient follows it.

Why Seeing a Specialist Matters

General dentists may provide estimates that sound too good to be true, often because they focus on simpler, cosmetic corrections. Orthodontic specialists, however, evaluate the entire bite, jaw position, and facial structure. This ensures treatment not only looks good at the end but also works well long-term.

By starting with a specialist, you’ll get a realistic estimate of your treatment length and a plan designed for lasting results.

The Bottom Line

At Strouse Orthodontics, most of our patients finish treatment in 18 months on average, though the typical range is 1–2 years. Case complexity, treatment goals, and patient compliance all play a role in the timeline.

If you’re considering braces or Invisalign, the best way to know how long treatment will take for you is to schedule a consultation with an orthodontic specialist.

Call Strouse Orthodontics at 352-688-0331 or schedule online at www.strouseorthodontics.com
to find out how long your treatment might take. We proudly serve patients in Spring Hill, Lecanto, and surrounding Florida communities.

Many people believe that dentists are the ones who “do Invisalign” and orthodontists are the ones who “do braces.” This is a common misconception, and is not correct. Invisalign and braces are simply tools used by the doctor. What truly matters is the provider behind the treatment plan. Orthodontic specialists are the doctors with the advanced training to use those tools correctly, whether it’s braces, clear aligners, or other appliances.

Dr. Eric Strouse at Strouse Orthodontics are the leading experts in clear aligner treatment and orthodontic treatment in Citrus and Hernando County FL.

Dentists vs. Orthodontic Specialists: What’s the Difference?

All orthodontists begin as dentists, but only a small percentage go on to complete two to three additional years of full-time residency training focused exclusively on moving teeth, correcting bites, and guiding jaw development.

Dentists are highly skilled at oral health care: cleanings, fillings, crowns, and overall maintenance.

Orthodontic specialists focus on diagnosis, biomechanics, and the precise science of how teeth and jaws move.

This distinction is important because orthodontics is not just about making teeth look straight, it’s about achieving a functional, healthy bite, fitting a smile to the individual patients face and providing the best results. Many dentists offering Invisalign are not only unfamiliar with advanced biomechanics, but they often lack fluency in the basic diagnostic terms orthodontists use every day, such as crossbite, overjet, or skeletal discrepancy. Commonly, dentists do not even take proper orthodontic records(a full set of photographs, panoramic x-ray and cephalometric x-ray). Many dentists will not even know what a cephalometric x-ray is! Without this foundation, treatment planning can become superficial, missing underlying problems and not having a full picture to plan a patients case.

The Marketing Tricks: “Certified in Invisalign” or “Invisalign Specialist”

Dentists often promote themselves as “certified in Invisalign” or even call themselves “Invisalign specialists.” These terms can be misleading:

Certified in Invisalign simply means they completed a short training course (sometimes only a weekend) to allow them to offer the product. It is not equivalent to years of specialty education. They are told, you will be able to go back to your office on Monday and begin generating profits treating all cases.

Invisalign specialist is not a recognized dental specialty. The only true specialty is a Specialist in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. To have this distinction, one needs to complete an orthodontic residency recognized by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

These phrases are often used in marketing to create the impression that a dentist has the same expertise as an orthodontist. The truth is, orthodontic specialists are uniquely trained to design safe, effective, and comprehensive treatment plans. Many offices, the dentist will tell the patient they need an orthodontic consultation and tah-dah, the dentist is the orthodontist too!

Why Dentists Offer Invisalign

Many general dentists are encouraged by dental consultants to keep orthodontic services in-house. Consultants highlight the “lifetime value of a patient” the total revenue a practice generates over time, and warn dentists about the “lost revenue” when they refer patients out to specialists. They will be told phrases such as "even 2 cases a month that you refer out are costing you over 100,000 in revenue!"

As a result, some dentists hold onto orthodontic cases, even when those cases are more complex than they are trained to handle.

The Risks of Seeing a Dentist for Invisalign

When orthodontic treatment is supervised by someone without specialty training, the risks include:

Oversimplified treatment planning – Bite issues and skeletal problems may be missed.

Incomplete or unstable results – Teeth may appear straight but relapse quickly.

Delayed specialist care – Patients may spend months or years with little progress before being referred out.

Misleading information – Patients are told they “aren’t candidates” for Invisalign, when in reality, under specialist supervision, almost any case can be treated.

Waiting for baby teeth to fall out do do Invisalign - Often dentists tell parents they are just waiting on a childs baby teeth to fall out to do Invisalign when in reality there are multiple impacted teeth that will later require a surgery to correct.

Why Orthodontic Specialists Can Do More With Invisalign

Clear aligners are just one tool, success depends on the expertise of the provider.

An orthodontic specialist like Dr. Eric Strouse, who lectures to orthodontic residents on clear aligner therapy, has the training and experience to use Invisalign effectively for even the most complex cases. Specialists understand how to sequence tooth movements, manage jaw discrepancies, and build stability into treatment plans. Under the guidance of an Orthodontic Specialist even the most complex cases can be treated with clear aligners.

The Bottom Line for Patients

Dentists play a vital role in maintaining oral health. But when it comes to moving teeth and correcting bites, orthodontic care belongs in the hands of a specialist.

Don’t be misled by marketing phrases like “Invisalign certified” or “Invisalign specialist.” Orthodontists are the only providers with the advanced training to manage both simple and complex orthodontic needs safely and effectively.

For results that last a lifetime, trust your smile to an orthodontic specialist.