You've worked hard for your beautiful smile, so let's keep it that way!
Your braces are off, and your smile is straight, beautiful, and metal-free! But your orthodontic journey isn't quite done. To keep things looking their best, you'll wear a retainer to preserve and stabilize your results. Retainers limit any potential shifting after braces, holding your teeth in place while the surrounding gums, bone, and muscle settle into their new positions.
Types of Retainers
Retainers are custom-made and come in removable or fixed styles.
- Traditional removable retainers usually have a metal wire that wraps around your front teeth, attached to an acrylic arch that rests on the roof of your mouth. The wires can be adjusted to fine-tune the position of your front teeth as needed.
- Aligner-style retainers, or Essix retainers, look like clear aligners and offer a more attractive alternative to wire. This clear retainer may cover your full arch or just canine to canine (a clip-on retainer), and it's made from a mold of your newly aligned teeth.
- Fixed retainers are wires bonded behind your bottom and/or top teeth. They're usually needed for about a year after wisdom teeth come out, but they're often kept in place for life.
Pros and Cons
- Removable retainers come out for eating and your hygiene routine.
- They can get lost easily, so always keep yours in its case when it's out of your mouth.
- A fixed retainer is great if you'd rather not keep track of one or worry about daily wear time.
- Teeth with fixed retainers need a little extra care to clear tartar while flossing. You'll often use floss threaders to slide floss through the small spaces between the retainer and your teeth.
Wearing your retainer:
Wearing your retainer really matters! Your teeth will move and shift if you don't follow the schedule below.
- Wear your retainer 24 hours a day for the first 2 weeks, removing it only to eat or brush.
- After the first two weeks, wear it at least 12 hours a day for at least 2 months, mostly in the evening and overnight. Skip wearing it to school during this time.
- After 2 months, wear it about 8-10 hours a day, mostly at night while you sleep.
- Retainers need to be worn for life. Some people reach a point where slipping them in once or twice a week keeps their smile in place (this doesn't work the same for everyone). If that's you, keep a close eye on your teeth, and if you notice any shifting, get your retainers back in right away. You never want them to stop fitting. If they don't fit, call us and we'll set up an appointment to check them. There is an office charge for that visit.
- Pets love to chew the plastic, so keep your retainers in a safe, protected spot when they're out of your mouth.
Cleaning your retainer:
- Brush your retainers daily with a soft toothbrush and toothpaste, then rinse well.
- You can soak them in mouthwash now and then to freshen them up.
- Some discoloration is normal. A denture cleaner like Efferdent helps.
Appointments:
It's important that we see you for regular appointments for at least two years after your braces come off.
- Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
- Let our office know right away if your retainers are lost or damaged.
- If your retainers stop fitting properly or you notice any shifting, call us right away.
