On the day you have your braces removed, you begin an important phase of your orthodontic treatment … RETENTION. Over the past months, your teeth have moved a considerable distance and are not yet firm. Your orthodontic retainers have been carefully designed to hold your teeth in their new positions until they are stable. The retention period lasts about 2 years and should really be maintained indefinitely. This period is an essential part of your treatment.

Your upper retainer is a removable appliance designed to maintain your teeth in their corrected positions. Follow these instructions carefully.

Retainer Instructions

• The upper retainer should be worn 24 hours a day for the first 6 months (except during meals and brushing) unless otherwise instructed. Later … you may wear your retainer at night only.
• Take your retainers out when eating … and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants. Pets love to chew on them!)
• Clean the retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush. Remember never to use toothpaste on the retainer. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but these do not take the place of brushing. Avoid soaking your retainer in mouthwash, which will cause the retainer to become discolored and brittle. Also, avoid storing them near any source of heat. Please DO NOT boil your retainer.
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them faster.
• Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. Because retainers have fragile structures, it is necessary to be delicate when placing, removing or handling them. Please avoid flipping the retainer with your tongue. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
• Remove the retainer by pulling down on the clasp around the back tooth. Don't pull down on the wire across the front. This will break the wire.
• Remember your first set of retainers have been paid for in the original fee. However, there will be an additional charge to repair lost or damaged retainers.
• Please bring your retainer to each appointment.

Bonded Lingual Retainer

A bonded lingual retainer is a form of retention utilizing a thin wire or gold chain, contoured precisely to the back of your lower front teeth. We also have clear removable retainers. The esthetic material used to bond the retainer is the same material used to repair a fractured front tooth. This retainer is absolutely the best method to maintain your beautiful smile and prevent the lower teeth from shifting. What makes the bonded lingual retainer such a great appliance is that, unlike a removable retainer, you cannot lose it because it is permanently attached. Parents love this! If your retainer becomes loose within the first six months following the removal of your braces, there is no charge to re-cement the appliance.