Preserving Your Beautiful Smile
Orthodontic treatment offers enduring benefits with consistent oral health practices. Certain habits and conditions require strong retention to maintain these outcomes:
- Mouth breathing
- Teeth clenching or grinding
- Tongue thrusting or abnormal tongue posture
- Playing musical instruments with a reed
- Lip or pen/pencil biting
- Pre-existing gaps or severely rotated teeth
Our goal is to safeguard the beauty and health of your smile for life. Your cooperation is essential in achieving this goal. If you have any of these habits, diligent retainer wear is especially crucial.
Dental Examinations and Cleanings
Maintaining proper oral hygiene at home, including thorough brushing and flossing, is vital. Regular dental check-ups every six months, or more frequently if recommended, are indispensable.
Removable Retainers
Following active orthodontic treatment, patients receive retainers to stabilize orthodontic correction. Wearing these as directed is imperative during the initial months as bone and soft tissues adjust post-brace removal. Neglecting retainer wear may result in undesired tooth movement, necessitating re-treatment.
Hawley Retainer
Traditional retainer made of acrylic and stainless steel wires.
Clear Retainer
Resembles clear aligners like Invisalign, made of clear plastic.
Wearing Removable Retainers
Teeth may shift over time, prompting lifelong retainer use post-orthodontic therapy. Initially, full-time retainer wear is advised as prescribed by our orthodontists. Once teeth stabilize, wearing retainers at night indefinitely maintains your smile.
Caring for Your Retainer
- Retainers are sensitive to heat and should be kept away from sources exceeding 115 degrees (F°).
- Store them in provided cases away from pets.
- Clean retainers before and after use to prevent plaque buildup, gently scrubbing with a toothbrush and mild soap.
- Soak in a vinegar-water solution to loosen stubborn plaque, then rinse thoroughly.
Periodic replacement may be necessary due to wear. Your treatment contract covers one set of retainers post-braces. Fees may apply for lost or damaged retainers; contact us promptly for replacements or repairs.
Fixed or Permanent Retainers (Bonded Wire)
Ideally, bonded wires remain indefinitely unless hygiene concerns arise. Regular checks by your dentist ensure the wire’s integrity and effectiveness in safeguarding teeth and bite evolution.
Fixed or Permanent Retainers (Bonded Wire)
The bonded wire should ideally remain in place indefinitely. The only exception is if your family dentist advises that it’s not being kept clean and is causing gum or bone issues. In such cases, the wire should be removed, and a removable retainer should be worn as prescribed by our orthodontists. The fixed wire serves to safeguard the teeth as the patient ages or as the bite evolves over time. It’s important to have this wire checked by your family dentist during your six-month checkups.
