Why is the retention phase in orthodontics necessary? 🦷 Because when your braces or aligner treatment ends, your teeth are not yet fully stable. The bone and surrounding fibers need time to adapt to their new positions — and without guidance, they naturally try to move back. That’s where retainers come in — they hold your smile steady while the tissues around your teeth remodel and strengthen. Whether you’ve had braces or clear aligners, this phase is just as important as the active treatment i