Smile Maintenance
Congratulations – you're done with your active orthodontic treatment. Your new smile is complete, it's time to show it off!
Now that your braces have come off, or you've taken off your final set of aligners, it's time for the maintenance phase of your treatment. This means wearing a fixed or removable retainer to hold your smile in place.
Traditional removable retainers are made from an acrylic arch that sits in the roof of the mouth, and an attached metal wire that surrounds the front teeth. The metal wire holds your teeth in place and can even be adjusted to fine-tune the results of your treatment.
Removable aligner-style retainers offer a clear alternative to wire retainers. This clear retainer can be made to fit over the entire arch of your teeth, or just from canine to canine.
Fixed retainers consist of wires bonded to the backs of your front teeth. The lower front teeth are particularly prone to shifting throughout adulthood. That's why we often recommend a fixed wire retainer for the lower teeth.
Retainers are the essential final step in your orthodontic treatment journey.
Flexible Payment Plans
At Lo Elliott Orthodontics, we believe that finances should never be a barrier to a healthy smile. Our team would be happy to work with you to develop a zero-interest payment plan to fit your budget. Now that's worth smiling about!
Why You Need a Retainer
There are two main reasons you need a retainer after your active orthodontic treatment is complete, and they go hand-in-hand: stabilization and prevention.
During the active part of your orthodontic treatment, your aligners or braces are continuously working to move your teeth (including their roots) into their new positions. When the roots move, the surrounding bone needs to reform around them to hold them securely in place once again.
As you can probably imagine, this process takes time. It can continue for many months after the initial movement of the roots has taken place.
Preserving Your Results
Wearing a retainer helps stabilize your teeth while this happens, giving the surrounding jawbone the time it needs to reform and harden around the roots. This prevents the teeth from shifting back to their original positions and undoing all of your months or years of orthodontic treatment.
Retainer FAQs
Learn some retainer basics by reading these frequently asked questions from our patients.
-
How long do I have to wear my retainer?
Retainers are a long commitment for all orthodontic patients.
You'll have to wear your retainer full-time for at least three months after your active orthodontic treatment is complete, and nightly after that.
Even people who have never had orthodontic treatment will experience their teeth shifting over time; orthodontic patients are even more prone to this and should wear retainers for as long as they want straight teeth.
-
How often do I have to wear my retainer?
Fixed Retainers
If you have a fixed retainer, you will continue wearing it 24 hours a day indefinitely. These retainers provide the ultimate protection against unwanted tooth movement. By keeping your retainer in place for months or years, you help to ensure that your teeth are truly set in their corrected positions and that your smile stays straight.
Removable Retainers
For the first few months of retainer wear after active orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will instruct you to wear your retainer 24 hours a day, every day. This is because these early months of the retention phase are when your teeth are most likely to relapse (shift back to their pre-treatment positions).
Over time, your teeth will settle into their new positions, decreasing your risk of relapse. When your orthodontist determines you're ready, you'll be able to start wearing your retainer for fewer hours a day. For many people, this means wearing retainers only overnight.
-
How often should I replace my retainer?
With proper care and correct use, most retainers can last for years. But, how long your retainer lasts will depend on the type of retainer you wear and how well you care for it.
The following signs indicate that a new retainer might be in order:
Cracks or Chips in Aligner Style Retainers
When you start noticing chips or cracks in your aligner style retainer, it's time to replace it. This type of damage will only get worse over time, and it will also compromise the structural integrity of the retainer, making it less effective.
Poor Fit
All retainers are designed to be sturdy and durable, but they may begin to loosen over time. Speak to your orthodontist right away if you notice that your retain isn't fitting as well as it used to. It may be time for a new one.
Excessive Buildup
Just like your teeth, your retainer needs to be kept clean. Different styles of retainers require different methods of cleaning. If you notice that your retainer is developing a build-up or film that won't come off with regular cleaning, speak to your orthodontist. A new retainer may be necessary.
-
Can I eat or drink while wearing my retainer?
You should always take your retainer out when eating, and you should also take it out if you're drinking hot liquids, or highly pigmented ones, to prevent the retainer from getting warped or stained, respectively.
You can drink water while your retainer is in, however.
-
How to clean orthodontic retainers?
Clean your removable retainer at least once daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and some mild, unscented liquid soap. This removes food debris, plaque and bacteria. Rinse the retainer with cool or room temperature water to remove the soap when you're done.
We also suggest soaking your retainer using specially made retainer cleaning tablets dissolved in water as needed. This can help loosen any stubborn buildup and leave your retainer feeling fresh.
-
How do I store my retainer?
When you're not wearing or cleaning your retainer, it's important to store it somewhere safe, so it doesn't get lost or damaged. We recommend storing your retainer in the case it comes with when you're not wearing it.
Always remember to clean and dry your retainer and its carrying case thoroughly first to prevent bacteria from forming.
-
What happens if I forget to put my retainer in?
It's important to wear your retainer as prescribed by your orthodontist to ensure that your orthodontic treatment results are maintained.
That said, if you occasionally forget to wear your retainer for short periods of time, you probably have nothing to worry about. Just go back to wearing it consistently as soon as you remember.
Keep in mind that if you don't wear your retainer consistently, there's a chance your teeth could shift out of position, and you'll require more corrective orthodontic treatment to realign them. To avoid this, prioritize wearing your retainer as prescribed.