Retainers

Fix or Get New/Replacement Retainers

HD Orthodontics in Long Beach CA

Why Retainers Matter After Orthodontic Treatment

Retainers are an important part of your orthodontic treatment. Without them, all the hard work you’ve put in over the many months of your treatment could all be a waste. A retainer’s job is to do exactly what its name implies – retain your teeth in their new positions.

After your teeth have been guided to their new locations using either braces or clear aligners, your mouth needs time to adjust. The bone must remodel around the teeth, and the periodontal ligament (elastic fibers within your gums) needs to get used to retaining the teeth in these new places. Your retainers ensure this happens and that your teeth don’t drift back to their old locations.

Your retainers are included in your orthodontic treatment plan. Your orthodontist may offer two types of retainers: fixed retainers or removable retainers.

What are fixed retainers?

Fixed retainers are cemented behind your front teeth using a special bonding agent to ensure they stay in their new locations. This type of retainer is typically recommended for patients who have a lot of crowding or stubborn spaces, both of which tend to have a higher degree of relapse potential. They are also recommended for patients who do not want to worry about the responsibility of taking a retainer in and out of their mouth.

What are removable retainers?

Removable retainers are the most commonly used type of retainers. Just as the name indicates, they can be placed in the mouth and removed when eating, drinking or brushing. You must wear this type of retainer as your orthodontist prescribes to avoid relapse.

There are two main types of removable retainers – Hawley and clear retainers.

Hawley retainers are what many of us think of when we picture a retainer. They consist of a piece of wire attached to plastic or acrylic. The plastic piece rests on your palate or the floor of your mouth while the wire extends around your teeth to hold them in place.
Clear retainers look just like clear aligners (Invisalign), but they are made of a thicker, stiffer plastic to hold the teeth in position. Clear retainers are nice because not only are they less noticeable than Hawleys, but they also cover the entire surface of the teeth to better ensure long-term stability.

Both Hawley and clear retainers will be custom created for your individual smile using your 3D printed model, so they will be as comfortable as possible.

What happens if I don’t wear my retainer?

While some tooth movement is normal over time and as we age, you don’t want your smile to go back to where it was before your orthodontic treatment. Wearing your retainers is important to keep your teeth as straight as possible. If you don’t wear your retainer as prescribed, you will notice that all that hard work will start to fade away.

Will a retainer hurt?

No, a retainer should not be painful. It should feel snug against your teeth but should still be comfortable to wear. You may, however, feel slight discomfort if you forget to wear your retainer for a while and then try to begin wearing it again. This is because the teeth can begin to shift and then when the retainer is placed, it feels tight as it tries to push the teeth back into position. If your retainer becomes damaged it could also cause discomfort. In either case, schedule an appointment with HD Orthodontics to repair or replace your retainer.

What happens if I damage or lose my retainer?

Call your orthodontist right away if you lose or damage your retainer. We can create a new one for you as soon as possible, so you don’t have to go for an extended period of time without it and risk teeth shifting. At HD Orthodontics, we offer a retainer replacement plan or insurance to cover the cost of replacing your retainers for up to six years. This is a great option for patients to protect their investment against lost or broken retainers, but also if patients want multiple sets of retainers as backups for the future. Since retainers are meant to be worn for a lifetime, having several sets of them is never a bad idea.

How long will I need to wear retainers?

The short answer is you should wear your retainers for life! While you will need to wear it around the clock for the first year after treatment has finished, you’ll be able to switch to nighttime wear once your mouth has had time to adjust. It is important to continue nighttime wear for a lifetime, however, so your teeth don’t shift as you age.

What happens if I forget to wear my retainer?

It depends on how long you have had your retainers out. If it has only been a few days, you can return to wearing your retainers as prescribed by your orthodontist. If it has been a few weeks and the retainers are painful to wear, the teeth may have shifted too much for the retainers to fit properly. In this case, you may need a new retainer made to keep the teeth in the current position and prevent further movement, or you may need to be re-treated with Invisalign or braces to re-align your teeth.

How do I care for my retainer?

Taking proper care of your retainer is important to ensure it lasts. Here are some tips:

Always remove your retainer when eating. If you have a clear retainer, treat it just as you did your clear aligners and remove it before eating or drinking anything other than plain water.
Always return the retainers to their case when they aren’t in your mouth. This can prevent them from accidentally being thrown away or misplaced.
Don’t chew gum while wearing your retainers.
Keep your retainers away from pets – we’ve had more than one patient have a retainer damaged by a pet who used it as a chew toy.
Rinse your retainers before placing it back in your mouth after eating.
Clean your retainers regularly. Denture cleaning tablets can work, but so can clear, antibacterial soap or toothpaste paired with a soft bristle toothbrush. We also recommend ultrasonic retainer cleaners as a great option to keep your retainers looking like new.
Call your orthodontist if you notice any damage to your retainer.
If you have a fixed retainer, be sure to carefully floss around the retainer and brush properly to prevent food debris and bacteria from building up.

You worked very hard during your orthodontic treatment to follow your care instructions and keep your treatment on track. Now it’s time to reap the rewards of that hard work. But remember, your retainers are an important part of your post-treatment plan and must be worn as prescribed by your orthodontist. If you ever have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call HD Orthodontics at 562-283-6590.

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