Final answer:
The patient will wear a retainer for 6 to 10 months to retain the teeth in their position after the removal of fixed orthodontics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The patient will wear a retainer for 6 to 10 months.
A retainer is a device that is custom-made by a dentist or orthodontist to help retain the teeth in their corrected position after the removal of fixed orthodontics, such as braces. It is typically worn at night or for a specific duration of time as recommended by the orthodontist.
Wearing a retainer is important because once orthodontic treatment is completed, there is a tendency for the teeth to shift back to their original position. The retainer helps prevent this shifting and allows the surrounding tissues to adjust and stabilize.