Maintaining straight teeth with Retainers and appliances
When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. The retention phase lasts for a minimum of 24 months. Remember to remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer before placing it back in your mouth. You will be given an upper and lower permanent bonded retainer, as well as removable clear wraparound retainers. These should be worn as long as possible, as your teeth will move throughout your life.
Removable Retainers
Maxillary wraparound retainers are your upper retainers, which are removable. You must be very careful when handling your upper retainers, as they are fragile and costly to replace. You are given a special case for your retainer; please make sure you keep them in this case when not wearing it! To clean these retainers, brush them with toothpaste (sometimes with denture cleaner) using warm water.
Your retainers should be worn at all times, with the exception of eating and brushing your teeth. Your retainer should also be removed when participating in sports that require a mouthguard or while swimming. After 1-2 months of full-time wear, we may revise your retention treatment, allowing the retainer to strictly be worn at night.
Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far.
Benefits of wearing retainers
You might be confused about wearing retainers after you have just availed of the braces treatment. Even though braces help in straightening your teeth, retainers help to maintain them in a perfect state. Retainers can also assist in curing speech impediments among children. There are several other benefits of wearing a retainer, like:
- It helps to keep your teeth straight and maintain the results for a long time.
- It can help children suffering from speech impediments and breathing issues by adjusting the tongue placement and keeping the teeth well aligned.
- With retainers, you will be able to maintain straighter teeth which also contributes to better oral health.
The more you adhere to your orthodontist’s instructions, the lesser time you will have to wear the retainer. Consult your dentist and follow their instructions to get the best results.
To know more about retainers, you can give us a call at 954-389-2345.
