Front teeth don't touch after braces, will this make my teeth unstable?

Question

My mother would not allow extractions to be done when I got braces, so now I have a slight overjet and my top and bottom front teeth don't touch. Ortho did not do any IPR. I cannot bite thin things. It looks okay I guess, still don't really like it, but isn't this result extremely unstable? Most people I know can stop wearing retainers with just a bit of shifting, but won't mine completely relapse?

Matthew M. Witt, MSc, DMD · Answer

In theory, having excess overjet could make your teeth less stable because they don't fit together to keep each other in check. HOWEVER, teeth will always want to move as a natural part of aging so the difference is rather negligible. Regardless of what your overjet is, you need an upper retainer and a lower retainer to prevent tooth movement.
People who stop wearing their retainers will experience an unpredictable amount of shifting, not "just a bit of shifting". It is a bad idea to stop wearing your retainer, regardless of how much overjet you have.
If you are unhappy with your overjet, it is likely you can always get extractions or jaw surgery to correct it down the road. For now, wear your retainers!

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