After your braces are removed, you will enter the most important phase of your orthodontic treatment- Retention. Retainers are used to maintain your beautiful smile that you worked so hard to achieve.
When you first get your retainers they should be worn 24 hours a day except for eating and brushing. As your teeth stabilize, Drs. Shaw, Jane and Ginzler will monitor your teeth and gradually reduce the time you need to wear them. It is very important to wear your retainers exactly as directed so that you won’t need braces again.
If you don't wear your retainer on a regular basis, your teeth will shift! Sometimes it is hard to see the shifting until it is too late. Be sure to follow your doctor’s guidelines. Teeth have a tendency to move back to their original position. The retainers will help minimize this shifting. Wear your retainers as directed to keep your teeth in their correct position.
 | There are many different types of retainers. Drs. Shaw, Jane and Ginzler will decide which type would be best for you. If you take care of your retainers they will last a long time. Eventually it may be necessary to buy new retainers, to keep your teeth straight. |  |
| Hawley retainer | | Invisible retainer |
Caring for Your Retainer
It’s not unusual for your retainers to feel strange at first. During the first few days of wearing them you may need to adjust to talking with them in your mouth. Your mouth may water excessively; this is a normal salivary response and will cease in a few days. If the retainer causes any discomfort be sure to call the office to set up an appointment as soon as possible.
Retainers live in your mouth along with bacteria. Every time you brush your teeth, you should also brush your retainer. Brush your retainer using your toothbrush, toothpaste and cool water. This will keep it smelling fresh and prevent any plaque and calculus build-up. You can also soak your retainers in a denture-cleaning agent.
Never put them in hot water or leave them near a heat source, since the acrylic can easily warp. Finally, do not bend the wires. Avoid playing with your retainer or flipping the retainer around in your mouth. This will cause the wires to bend; you can lose the proper adjustment and possibly break the retainer.
Try to keep your retainers in the case we will provide for you. This will prevent breakage and help you from losing them. If you don’t have your case, don’t take your retainers out, if you lose the case, let us know and we will provide you with another one. When your retainers are in the case make sure you keep the case in a safe place. Dogs and cats love to chew retainers so try to keep them out of reach.
Lost Retainers?
Retainers can be misplaced or broken. If you have misplaced or broken your retainer call our office as soon as possible to have it replaced or see if it can be repaired. There is a replacement cost for them and the costs for retainers vary based on the complexity and laboratory time needed to fabricate a new retainer.