You will receive retainers to maintain the final position of your teeth on the day your braces are removed. This includes fixed retainer wires bonded to the inside of your upper and lower teeth. You will also receive upper and lower retainers to sleep with at night. It’s essential to wear your retainers as instructed, which is while you are sleeping. This is a life-long commitment to maintain the result so you don’t have to have braces placed again in the future.
Remember, maintaining your beautiful new smile is a lifelong commitment. Wearing your retainers as directed will ensure your orthodontic journey ends with a smile that lasts a lifetime.
Removable Retainers
Once the active orthodontic appliances are removed, the patient will receive retainers to stabilize the dental correction. Because the bone and soft tissues surrounding the teeth are stabilizing for several months after braces are removed, it is imperative that the retainers are worn as instructed. Failure to wear the retainers may result in undesirable movement of the teeth, which could necessitate re-treatment.
How Orthodontic Retainers are Worn
Teeth have a tendency to shift throughout life, even after orthodontic treatment. To maintain the beautiful results of your treatment, we recommend that you wear your retainers indefinitely.
How to Care for Orthodontic Retainers
Proper care of your retainers is essential to maintain their effectiveness and longevity. Please follow these important guidelines:
- Retainers are made of a heat-sensitive material. Keep them away from hot water, dishwashers, car dashboards, and other sources of heat.
- When not in your mouth, retainers should be stored in their case.
- Keep retainers out of reach of pets, as they may chew on them.
- Clean your retainers thoroughly with cool or room temperature water and a toothbrush. Never use hot or boiling water, as this will damage them.
Remember that retainers are typically worn for life and may need to be replaced periodically. If your retainers become loose or damaged, please contact our office immediately.
Fixed Retainers (Bonded Wire)
- Upper and lower lingual retainers are bonded to the back of your upper four front teeth and your lower six front teeth. These retainers must be in for life. If anything should happen to these retainers you should contact the office as soon as possible to have them checked and or fixed.
- You should still be mindful of the foods you are eating in this area, foods that are sticky, hard and chewy should be avoided in the area of the bonded retainer as it could break or damage it.
- Flossing should still be done every night. Threaded floss is still needed in order to get between the contact of the tooth and under the retention wire. Special care should be taken when removing the floss; always pull the floss back through the contacts of your teeth be careful not to pull the floss upward towards the retainer. You may dislodge it or even break it.
- This wire should stay in forever. Please have this wire monitored by your family dentist at your six-month check-ups.
Dental Examinations and Cleanings
Continue to practice proper oral hygiene at home, including thorough brushing and flossing. It’s also important that you see your family dentist for cleanings and checkups at least every six months.
