This adult patient visited my West Kendall practice after having braces as a teenager elsewhere. Her permanent fixed retainer became loose, and because she waited to have it repaired, the wire actually pushed her teeth out of their proper alignment. To fully restore her bite to optimal results, I treated her with traditional braces for 18 months. This case highlights a critical lesson: maintaining your fixed retainers and getting them repaired immediately is absolutely vital to protecting your smile! Additionally, sticking to a soft diet to avoid breaking hardware and maintaining excellent daily hygiene are key to keeping your treatment on track. Since I personally manage every adjustment at every visit, I closely monitored her progress to ensure a safe, predictable, and beautiful outcome. Contact Martinez Orthodontics in The Crossings today to schedule your personal evaluation.