Fixed (Bonded) Retainer
Essix Retainer
Hawley Retainer
Retainers are used to maintain the newly achieved position of your teeth after your braces are removed. While some shifting of individual teeth is normal, this will be minimized if the retainers are worn as prescribed. If they are not worn as prescribed, the chance of shifting will only increase. Retainers are only designed to maintain the position of teeth, not re-align shifted teeth.
Your teeth may be sore a few days as you acclimate to your new retainers. Wearing them as they are prescribed will help relieve this discomfort.
Your teeth naturally shift some as you age; therefore it is important to continue wearing your retainer for life. To keep your smile looking beautiful for a lifetime you should wear your retainers every night. If you miss a night and they feel a little tight once you reinsert them, just increase how long you wear the retainers until they are comfortable again.
Removable Retainer Care Instructions
- Use a toothbrush, toothpaste and warm water to clean your retainers daily.
- Never use boiling or hot water to clean your retainers as this could damage them.
- When you are not wearing your retainers, always place your retainers in their case.
Bonded Retainer Care Instructions
- Floss around and under your retainer daily.
- If you lose or break your bonded retainer, keep wearing your removable retainer at night and contact us to schedule an appointment to have the retainer fixed or replaced.
- You can contact us to schedule an appointment if you need to have the retainer checked.
Post-braces Restorations
- If you have any type of restoration (i.e. fillings, veneers, crowns, etc.) after you have your braces removed, it is possible your retainers may not fit properly. In this case, please contact our office to have new retainers fabricated for your new bite. Failure to do this may result in your teeth shifting.