About Your Hardware

Retainers

Wear and Care of Retainers

The final stage of your orthodontic treatment is called retention. It's purpose is to ensure that your new smile is long-lasting.

watch a short movie about how retainers work   Your retainers are designed to hold your teeth in their corrected positions until the bones and gums adapt to the change. You must wear the retainers exactly as you have been instructed; otherwise your teeth may move back to their old positions and the benefits of wearing braces will be lost.

The 4 Retainer Rules

1. Wear your retainer!

It isn't doing you any good in your pocket or purse.

Teeth are always shifting whether a person has had braces or not. Braces have interrupted this trend and without retainers, some shifting will occur. It is unlikely that your teeth would return to their original positions but we do know that nature wants to continue to shift your teeth.

Even after the one year of retention in our office, we encourage you to 'self-monitor' against shifting by wearing your retainers every few nights and judge (by how tight they are) whether or not your teeth are shifting.

You may decide that you will accept some changes in your teeth as you age and stop wearing the retainers altogether. This is a personal decision and if made, you must be willing to accept some shifting with natural ageing.

2. Keep them clean!

At least once per day, clean with a soft brush and toothpaste. Do not use hot water: it will cause the retainer to distort.

You can soak it with a Polident Retainer Cleaner tablet, mouthwash or vinegar to keep away buildup and odour.

3. Handle with care!

Retainers are easy to lose. If you take them out to eat, don't wrap them in a napkin. It could get thrown out!! And remember, pets LOVE to chew on retainers too.

If a retainer is broken or distorted a new one should be made immediately. If a bonded retainer comes loose, notify us right away and be sure to bring it in with you to your appointment.

The fee for braces includes one set of retainers; there will be a charge for replaced or repaired retainers.

4. See your family dentist!

A fresh cleaning and check-up is just what the doctor ordered at this point.

Don't risk reversing your accomplishments! Wear your retainers faithfully and your reward will be a continued beautiful smile!