Congratulations! You have successfully achieved the beautiful smile you desired.
To maintain your terrific smile, it will be important to faithfully wear and care for your retainers as instructed. It is also important to continue good oral hygiene habits when your braces come off. Please schedule an appointment to see your dentist in the near future.

Retainers act to maintain the position of your teeth exactly as they are the day your braces are removed. Until the day your braces come off, the teeth move as the braces reposition them. They are mobile because they have not been in one position long enough to become stable. Your retainers hold the teeth in place while new bone forms around the roots. Retainers are necessary to prevent teeth from shifting back to their original positions.

Your teeth may feel loose and be a little sore for a few weeks after the braces are removed. This is normal. You will also experience increased saliva and possible slurring of your speech until you are used to your retainers.

We will provide the first set of retainers. If additional retainers are needed due to patient non-compliance, loss, or breakage, there will be an additional charge. If your retainer is broken, please bring it with you so we can determine whether or not a repair can be made. The bonded lower retainer will be repaired for the first six months at no charge UNLESS excessive breakage or noncompliance occurs. After six months or due to non-compliance, there will be a repair fee or a fee charged to remove the lower bonded retainer and provide you with a removable lower retainer.
The supervised retention phase of your treatment lasts approximately one year. You will then be released from treatment with instructions on continued retainer wear. If you require adjustments, repairs, or need new retainers in the future, please schedule an appointment. There MAY BE office visit charges for appointments after one year.

Retainers are like eyeglasses, contact lenses, or any other personal item that is worn daily—they will wear out. It may be necessary to purchase new retainers to ensure your smile lasts a lifetime.

How to care for your retainer:

1. Your clear retainer must be worn all day, unless eating or brushing your teeth, for the first six months. The wire retainer must be worn EVERY night.

2. Put your name on your retainer case and place the retainer in its case while eating or not being worn. It is fragile and must be handled with care. Never carry the retainer in a pocket without the case.

3. Clean your removable retainers every time you brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. You can use mouthwash to rinse your retainers, but do not soak them for longer than 10 minutes. Use only ORTHODOTIC-SAFE denture or retainer cleaners. Brush your bonded retainer with your toothbrush and floss under the retainer with a floss threader or Superfloss. DO NOT pull too hard against the wire or pick at the bonded retainer with a tooth pick. It will break the glue.

4. Never place the retainer in hot water or disinfect them in a dishwasher or microwave. Never leave your retainer in places where it will come in contact with extreme hot or cold temperatures, including your car.

5. Always remove the retainers ONLY with your fingers. Do not flip them out with your tongue or bite them into place. This will break them.

6. Do not eat or chew gum with your removable retainer in place. Avoid biting into hard objects (like carrots, apples, and candy), do not chew your fingernails (this flexes the teeth and breaks the glue), and absolutely NO chewing ice. These actions will break your bonded lower retainer.

7. Retainers are a LIFETIME commitment. There will never be a point in time when it is safe to get rid of your retainers. You may need to have new retainers made in the future!

8. Always bring your retainers to every appointment so we can check to make sure they fit properly.