Many factors can contribute to orthodontic relapse. These include flaws in the initial treatment plan, incorrect diagnoses, or improper execution of the treatment or post-treatment care.

When dental treatment is properly executed, teeth should remain aligned, with roots centered in the bone, crowns in the correct position, and gums and incisal edges aligned.

To achieve that, treatment must respect the biology of the masticatory organ, allow enough time – without hurrying the process, and find the balance between all the elements of the system.

If there is a conflict between the bite and the muscles, tongue, or joints, teeth may start to move again due to the body’s adaptive processes.

A frequent cause of relapse we are seeing is misalignment or dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that, if not treated properly, disrupts the balance of newly aligned teeth, causing them to move back into less optimal positions.

The results will be permanent only when treatments are performed in harmony with muscle and joint function, taking into account all the elements of the masticatory system.