When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. Most patients in our office will have a removable upper retainer and a permanent lower retainer attached to the tongue-side of the lower front teeth. The first year out of braces, full-time removable retainer wear is a must, and then most patients can wear their removable retainers at night only. For most patients, the retention phase lasts for a minimum of 24 months, however, retainers need to be worn for a lifetime, as teeth always have a tendency to shift throughout life. If problems do arise with your retainers or the alignment of your teeth, we encourage you to come in as soon as possible, no matter how long your braces have been off. 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.

Removable Retainers

Maxillary wrap-around retainers are your upper retainers, which are removable. You must be very careful when handling your upper retainers, as they are fragile and costly to replace. You are given a special case for your retainer; please make sure you keep them in this case when not wearing it! To clean these retainers, brush them with toothpaste and warm water. Denture cleaner can also help to keep retainers fresh and clean.

Your retainers should be worn at all times with the exception of brushing your teeth, and also when participating in sports that require a mouth-guard or while swimming. We encourage that removable retainers be worn during eating, so that they are not wrapped in a napkin and accidentally thrown away. If you do remove retainers, please make sure you put them in a case and the case goes in a safe place. Be careful not to let your retainer become a “chew toy” for your dog. After 12 months of full-time retainer wear, we will usually recommend the retainer to be worn at night only.

Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far.

Fixed Lower Retainer

A permanent retainer is the normal lower retainer. It is positioned along the back-side of the lower front teeth and is attached only to the lower canines in most patients. With good oral hygiene, these permanent lower retainers can last a lifetime. Make sure to come in ASAP if a lower retainer needs to be repaired, so your teeth don’t become misaligned.

Clear Trutain Retainers

For adult patients who are concerned with maximum esthetics, or who may have difficulty speaking with traditional retainers, clear removable retainers are an option for wear during the daytime hours. These retainers are more fragile than traditional retainers and also prevent teeth from fully settling into maximal tooth intercuspation, therefore a traditional retainer should still be worn the majority of the time, and at night while sleeping.

Bloore Retainers

Bloore retainers are often used in our office to correct minor tooth rotations of the front teeth. These retainers look like traditional removable retainers, but have springs on the back-side of the front teeth. These springs are adjusted every 6 weeks or so to gradually move the teeth into alignment. While not as effective as full braces for all tooth movements, Bloore aligners can be an acceptable option for some patients.