Retainers

Since the tissues and the teeth have not completely adjusted to the new and correct positions, it will be necessary to wear upper and lower retainers for a number of years. The purpose of the retainers is to close the space between the teeth where the bands were and to hold the teeth in the correct positions until they are reasonably stable. The average retention period is 24-48 months. In some cases, night retention is necessary for longer periods to keep the teeth in an ideal position.

Your total fee included one set of retainers and their adjustment over a two-year period. If it is necessary to continue retention beyond that point, appointments will be charged on an individual office call basis. In addition, a charge will be made for each retainer that needs to be replaced.
Both retainers are removable and should be worn at least 8 hours each night. The retainers can only be lost or broken outside the mouth, so please be sure they are handled carefully. In addition, if they are left out of the mouth more than one night, they may not fit. If an attempt to refit them is unsuccessful, a new retainer will have to be made.

Now that the braces have been removed, a complete dental examination by your dentist is recommended. Because the bands are somewhat of an irritant to the gum tissue, the patient is advised to brush the gums and teeth vigorously to restore the gums to a healthy condition. Fluoride toothpaste is recommended.
Impacted or improperly aligned wisdom teeth are thought to cause shifting of the teeth. We will address their status during your retention conference. If you have any questions, please let us know. Keep those retainers fitting...NEVER THROW THEM AWAY!

Retainers that Fit or Do-Not fit:

Call the Office if your retainers do not fit, like the example in the photo above. Hopefully, we can correct the problem by just increasing the wearing time. The teeth do not fill the pockets and a space is noted between the tooth edge and retainer.