When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. The retention phase lasts for a minimum of 12 months. It typically consists of wearing the retainer full time for two months, followed by night wear only for another ten months. After this phase of treatment, it is advisable to continue to wear your retainer at night, indefinitely. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far. Remember to remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer before placing it back in your mouth.
Instructions for patients currently in the retention phase of treatment.
Types of retainers:
Why are retainers so significant?
Retainers are very important. Braces have one aim: to use gentle pressure to move teeth into proper alignment. Because your teeth are still loose after braces are removed, they must be retained until the bone gradually fills in around them.
As braces move teeth, the bone and fibers attached to the teeth change, causing the teeth to loosen, slightly. This “looseness” is still present after braces are removed, thus enabling teeth to move slightly in all directions.
Over the course of a few months, bone begins to “fill in” around the roots of teeth, causing their positions to solidify. Retainers hold teeth perfectly straight while the filling in of bone is occurring. If retainers are not worn, teeth may move out of alignment and become “set” in those positions.
What causes teeth to become crooked after they’ve been straightened?
There are a number of factors that can cause your teeth to relapse to their crooked positions, such as:
- Not wearing retainers are instructed.
- A tongue thrust that has not been corrected.
- Thumb sucking that continues after orthodontic treatment.
- New crowns or fillings are placed without checking to see if retainers still fit appropriately.
During orthodontic treatment, we do everything possible to give you long-term results. After treatment, it is your responsibility to wear your retainers as instructed to ensure your teeth remain straight.
As the years pass, you may notice facial changes. These changes are genetically predetermined, and can sometimes affect the stability of your teeth. If you notice any changes, please contact us. It is easier to make corrections while the changes are still minor. The longer you wait to call us, the more difficult adjustments will be.
Retainer Instructions
- The first two months after braces are removed; removable retainers should be worn 24 hours a day. After two months, retainers can be worn for 12 hours a day, or as instructed.
- Remove your retainers when eating; always place them in their case. Most appliances are typically lost in restaurants or school lunch rooms.
- To remove plaque and eliminate odor, clean your retainers thoroughly once a day using a toothbrush. Soak them in a cup of water containing Efferdent or Polident. Use warm water.
- When you are not wearing your retainers, always place them in their case. Pets love to chew on retainers.
- When you first begin wearing retainers, you may have difficulty speaking. Practice speaking, reading and singing out loud. This will help you get used to the retainer faster.
- Treat your retainers with care. If you lose or break them, contact us immediately. Please bring your broken retainer with you when you come to the office. Also, avoid flipping your retainer with your tongue. This weakens the wire.
- Always remove your retainers by pulling on the loops.
- Bring your retainers to each appointment.
- Replacing retainers is expensive. Treat them with care and they will last for years.
- Do not place retainers in hot water, on hot car dashboards, in pockets, on the washing machine or in napkins.
Hawley Retainers
The Hawley retainer, one of the most common types, is a removable retainer that can be used to keep teeth in place or move them slightly. It can be used for the upper and lower teeth, and has two basic parts:
- Wires, which wrap around the outer surface of the teeth. The design of the wire varies depending on the patient.
- Acrylic, which is plastic that covers the roof of the mouth and the inside surface of the lower teeth. The acrylic can also be personalized with a large number of colors and/or patterns.
Invisible Retainers
Invisible retainers are worn when no additional movement is necessary. These retainers are lightweight, a bit flexible, comfortable and virtually invisible.
Permanent Retainers
Permanent retainers are thin wires bonded to the backs of the teeth, just as braces are applied to the fronts of teeth,