# Episode 5 — Great Tools, Great Cases: Why Some Results Relapse

_Copy/paste into Buzzsprout._

Thirty to seventy percent of orthodontic cases relapse within ten years. Retainer compliance gets a lot of the blame, but Kirsten makes the case that there's a bigger piece of the puzzle: resting tongue and lip posture. In Episode 5: the force math behind why teeth drift back, a five-check screen that flags higher-risk cases before treatment even starts, and how to sequence myofunctional (MY-oh-funk-shun-ul) therapy alongside a clear aligner case for a more stable result. Aligners are an excellent, precise tool — this episode is about giving them the best possible foundation to hold their result. Plus: two live CE sessions with SureSmile — September 23 virtual and October 23 in person at the Academy.

**In this episode:**
- (00:00) The refinement patient who did everything right
- (02:30) The force math: 4–8 pounds, 2,000 times a day
- (05:00) Why retainers hold, and myo helps them succeed
- (07:00) The four case types where myo adds the most value
- (09:30) The 90-second, five-check screen
- (12:00) Sequencing: before, during — ideally not after
- (14:00) The two live sessions, and what's in them

**Resources:**
- Live CE sessions (Sept 23 virtual · Oct 23 in person) → optimizedairway.com/events/aligner-airway
- 1-Hour CE Course → optimizedairway.com/ce-course (code PODCAST20)
- Full OAE Certification → optimizedairway.com/oae-certification
