Adult Retainers
Congratulations!
You have reached an important goal–a healthy bite and beautiful smile!
Why do we need retainers?
Retainers are used to maintain the alignment of your teeth and your bite in their corrected positions until stability is achieved.
When should retainers be worn?
Retainers will be worn 24 hours per day for the first 8-10 weeks. At that point, your teeth and retainers will be checked for stability and you will be given further instructions.
What can be expected?
If you have any soreness or tightness, leave the retainer in your mouth and you will feel comfortable very soon. The retainer's plastic taste will disappear quickly and your speech will return to normal after a few days.
If you have to remove your retainer:
- Always put your retainer in its case.
- If you do not have your case, keep your retainer in your mouth!
- Do not wrap them in a napkin or put them in your pocket.
- Keep retainers away from pets, they love to chew them!
Helpful Hints
- Clean your retainers by brushing them with toothpaste and cool water every day.
- Weekly, clean them more thoroughly with Retainer Brite or a denture cleanser.
- When using these cleansers, use only cool (not hot) water.
- Do not flip the retainers with your tongue, this could damage them.
- Bring your retainers with you to every appointment.
- Be careful, the charge for replacing a lost retainer is $195.
Loose retainers?
A loose retainer is OK because it means that your teeth are not shifting.
Tight retainers?
A tight retainer means that your teeth are shifting and that you need to wear your retainer more. If a retainer becomes so tight that you cannot wear it, please call our office.
Bonded Retainers
Due to the tendency of lower front teeth to shift after adult orthodontic treatment, this type of retainer is the best choice in this area. The bonded lower retainer can remain in place indefinitely. Excellent hygiene, including daily flossing, is essential to prevent gum problems. If the bonded retainer becomes loose or broken, please call our office.