RETENTION
Keep your smile looking its best
After months or years of orthodontics, you finally have that beautiful, straight, healthy smile you have always wanted. It’s now up to you to keep it that way! You now enter the retention phase. To keep your smile looking its best, you will wear a retainer to preserve and stabilize your results. You must wear your retainer as instructed. Otherwise, your teeth may move back toward their original positions, and the benefit of braces will be lost.
Retainers control and limit potential changes in tooth position. They are vital right after braces treatment to hold teeth in place while the surrounding tissue adjusts to the new positioning of your teeth and firms up.
TYPES OF RETAINERS
There are two main categories of retainers:
These retainers are also called permanent, lingual wire, fixed, or bonded retainers. Made of metal wire like copper, nickel, titanium, or a combination, they are placed on the inside of the front teeth and are intended to stay in place indefinitely. Since this type of retainer is always in place, it can’t be misplaced or lost and you will always remember to wear it.
These retainers come in two varieties: A traditional removable retainer that is made of metal and plastic, and a removable clear plastic retainer similar to clear aligners. Immediately following orthodontic treatment, these retainers are worn except when eating, drinking or brushing teeth and eventually only at night.
Pros and Cons of Retainer Types
How Long is The Retention Phase?
Immediately after finishing orthodontic treatment, Dr. Valeriano recommends that you wear your retainer for a minimum of 12 hours per day or more as directed. After 12 months, 8 hours of nightly wear is sufficient for most patients. To maintain the best results, lifetime retainer wear is strongly recommended.
The first six months of the retention phase allow for a majority of growth and settling to occur so that the teeth and jaws are as stable as possible. However, living tissue is always subject to change from posture, habits, muscle pressure, etc. Growth occurs in small amounts throughout life, allowing teeth and jaws to shift at any time.
The eruption of teeth, dental restorations and the aging process contribute to unwanted tooth movement. Forces exerted by the lips and tongue can also cause subtle changes in tooth positions. Habits such as biting your nails or chewing on pencils put enough pressure on the teeth to move them as well. The only way to maintain tooth alignment is with lifetime retention. This means wearing a removable retainer 4-7 nights per week forever.
Taking Care of Removable Retainers
- Follow Dr. Valeriano’s instructions
- Do not put them in your pocket or a napkin
- Clean your retainers after every meal
- Return them to their case when not in your mouth
- DO NOT wear your retainer while eating
- Bring your retainers to each appointment
- Do NOT use toothpaste on your retainer
- Use a toothbrush with soap to clean retainers and rinse in cold water
- Use a denture cleaner if necessary once a month
- Do not use hot water on your retainer
- Do not leave your retainer in hot cars or near heat sources
- Retainers must be worn full time (22hrs/day) until otherwise instructed
Let’s Get Started
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