Getting your braces off is definitely a cause for celebration. You can finally enjoy your new smile after all that work and effort! But getting your braces off isn’t the end of treatment. Once your braces come off, you will enter the retention period of treatment.
If you don’t wear your retainer, your teeth might revert to their former position, and you will lose the progress made. Teeth aren’t set in the jawbone, instead, they are held in place by a network of fibers called periodontal ligaments. After teeth have been moved, it takes several months for the periodontal ligament to support and adjust to new positions of the teeth. When you wear your retainer, you are supporting the periodontal ligaments and making sure that your teeth stay exactly where you want them.
Types of Retainers
At Merritt Orthodontics, we utilize the state-of-the-art technology of a digital scanner, which does not require messy impressions. This digital scan provides precise detail and comfort for our patients in preparation for their new retainer.
There are three types of retainers:
- Hawley retainer: The most popular and durable type of retainer, the Hawley retainer is designed with a thin, tongue-shaped mold that holds a wire across your teeth to keep them in place.
- Clear plastic retainer: These look and feel like clear aligners. They are made from plastic to fit exactly over your teeth and secure them.
- Fixed bonded retainer: A fixed bonded retainer is typically used on the front bottom teeth. A small wire is cemented to the tongue side of the teeth to keep them in place.
Tips for Retainer Success
- At Merritt Orthodontics, we recommend wearing your retainer for three months full time after your braces are removed. After this period, we recommend nighttime wear.
- Brush your retainer with toothpaste as you would your teeth every morning and night to assure it remains clean and bacteria free.
- Remove your retainer when you are eating or drinking anything besides water, as this may cause damage to your retainer and ultimately your smile.
- If your retainer feels tight or uncomfortable, call Dr. Ajanaku immediately.
- Visit Merritt Orthodontics after three months, six months, and then a year after your braces have been removed. These visits allow us to monitor the stability of your smile.
- If your retainer happens to break, or if you lose your retainer, please call our office at 210-344-9715 as soon as possible.
- Remove your retainer during sports or physical activities to prevent any damage to your retainer. After the activity has been completed, we suggest placing your retainer back in your mouth.
