Retainers
Guide to Retainers
Congrats! You did it. You’ve successfully completed your orthodontic treatment and you have a new smile to show for it. So now what? To keep your teeth straight permanently, you’ll need a little help from a retainer. Once those braces come off and you get a look at your new smile in the mirror, a retainer won’t seem like a hardship. Believe us.
Retainers keep your teeth perfectly in place after treatment when worn correctly.
A retainer is an orthodontic appliance that holds the teeth in their new position. It’s custom-made for each patient and no two retainers are the same. The most common combination of retainers we use are Essix Retainers and Fixed Retainers. Essix retainers are typically made of a plastic body that is molded to fit to your teeth and are removable. Most times fixed retainers are used, which consist of a thin wire bonded to the backside of the lower teeth. The combination of the two retainers will ensure no movement after completion of treatment, if worn correctly!
As a Diamond Invisalign provider, we now offer Vivera Retainers to our patients for greater value. Learn more about our new Vivera Retainer program and compare your retainer options at Aura Orthodontics.
You’ll receive personalized instructions on how long and how often to wear your retainer for the best results.
When you get your braces off, Aura Orthodontics will have a retainer created just for you. One of our Certified Specialists in Orthodontics, Dr. Sharma, Dr. Koo or Dr. Lin, will give you detailed instructions on how to wear your retainer and for how long. Every patient is different. In some instances, you’ll need to wear it for about four hours a day for the first few months, then at night only for about two years and finally just a few nights a week. More complex cases may require longer retainer use. Though your teeth may be sore for the first few days after wearing your new retainer, this subsides and you’ll barely notice it’s in (unless you skip multiple days!).
Keep your retainer clean and stored safely in its case when not in use.
You’ll want to keep your retainer sparkling clean to avoid odors, germs, food particles and plaque. Ask your doctor for cleaning instructions for your specific retainer and its materials. Some do well if cleaned with mild antibacterial soap and a toothbrush and some can be soaked in denture cleaner. You’ll take out your removable retainer to eat so be careful not to accidentally throw it away otherwise you could spend an afternoon digging through the trash. Try to avoid hiding it in a napkin or tissue as they tend to be forgotten and tossed. Also, sticking it in your pocket or bag is a no-no because it can break. Your best bet for safe storage when you’re not wearing it is putting it in your retainer case.
If you don’t wear your retainer, your teeth can slowly shift back to their original positions, undoing your orthodontic results.
Retainer use is the only way to ensure your teeth stay put permanently. If you don’t wear it, they will shift back into their old positions in time. The retainer helps your teeth learn their new place. In extreme cases, forgoing a retainer can mean you’ll need to braces all over again. To avoid this, follow your orthodontist’s instructions. If you misplace your retainer or forget to wear it and it no longer fits, contact us immediately so we can fit you for a new one.
Wearing your retainer will become second nature and typically you’ll eventually only need to put it in a few nights per week. Retainers are the key to lifelong straight teeth so you can smile with confidence. As always, call our Surrey orthodontics office if you have questions or concerns.
Retainer Options
Essix Retainers
1 set bundled with treatment costs.
Pros:
- Clear
- Smaller profile and more comfortable
- Easily removed for eating and oral hygiene
Cons:
- May need new impressions if major dental work changes shape or size of teeth
Lower Fixed Retainer
Optional.
Pros:
- Extra layer of stability for teeth most likely to shift
Cons:
- Harder to floss and maintain oral hygiene
- Care with some foods required
Protect Your Smile With a Fresh, Properly Fitting Retainer
Finishing orthodontic treatment is an exciting milestone, but maintaining your results is a lifelong process. Your retainer plays an important role in helping preserve the alignment of your teeth and the bite you worked hard to achieve.
Just like many things we use every day, retainers don’t last forever. With regular wear, the material can gradually change, which is why we encourage patients to periodically assess the condition, cleanliness, and fit of their retainers.
Why Do Retainers Need to Be Replaced?
Over time, everyday wear and tear can affect your retainer. Depending on its age, condition, and how frequently it is worn, you may begin to notice:
- Wear and distortion: Retainer material can gradually wear, stretch, crack, or change shape with repeated use.
- Changes in fit: A retainer that once fit snugly may begin to feel loose, uncomfortable, or different over time.
- Buildup and discoloration: Plaque, minerals, and other deposits can accumulate on a retainer with regular use.
- Changes to the surface: Scratches and surface wear can make an older retainer increasingly difficult to keep fresh and clean.
- Cracks or damage: Even small signs of damage can be a good reason to have your retainer assessed.
More Than Just Retention
Depending on the type of retainer and your individual needs, your retainer may serve more than one purpose.
Clear removable retainers can often be used as whitening trays, allowing whitening gel to be applied directly within the retainer when recommended by your dental or orthodontic team.
Retainers may also provide a degree of separation between the upper and lower teeth and can sometimes assist with mild clenching or grinding habits. However, a retainer is not a replacement for a professionally prescribed night guard. Patients with significant grinding, clenching, jaw discomfort, or excessive retainer wear should speak with their orthodontist or dentist about the most appropriate appliance for their individual needs.
Keeping your retainer fresh, properly fitting, and in good condition can therefore be important for more than simply maintaining tooth alignment.
Your Retainer Is Protecting an Important Investment
Orthodontic treatment is an investment in your smile, bite, and long-term oral health. Once treatment is complete, consistent retainer wear helps protect the results you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Our understanding of long-term orthodontic retention continues to evolve as new research and clinical evidence emerge. At Aura Orthodontics, Dr. Sharma, Dr. Koo, and Dr. Lin continually evaluate this evolving research and adapt our recommendations accordingly. Our approach today emphasizes long-term retention, proper retainer fit and periodic assessment of the appliance itself.
Rather than waiting until a retainer is lost, broken, heavily worn, or no longer fits properly, we encourage patients to periodically check their retainers and have them refreshed when appropriate.
Is It Time to Refresh Your Retainer?
Take a look at the retainer you’re wearing today.
Is it cloudy, heavily discoloured, scratched, cracked, distorted, loose, or difficult to keep clean?
If you’re unsure whether your current retainer is still in good condition, we’re happy to help. Contact Aura Orthodontics to learn more about retainer replacement and how you can continue protecting your orthodontic results for years to come.
