Retention
The braces are gone and this is another important stage in orthodontic treatment. This final stage is to add the finishing touches to help ensure a lifetime with a healthy, wonderful smile.
A removable retainer and/or a wire glued to the inside of the teeth are used to keep the teeth in their corrected positions. This allows the bones and gums to adapt to the change.
Don’t risk losing what has been achieved. It is important to comply with the instructions given; otherwise, the teeth can move and the retainer will not fit properly. Retainers preserve and stabilize the results achieved by the patient and Dr. Harfield or Dr. French.
Be patient. Dr. Harfield and Dr. French will determine how long the retainers need to be worn. The time varies with individual patients. Some children and adults may need retainers for an extended period of time to make sure the teeth do not shift.
We recommend our patients wear the retainers as close to 24 hours a day (full time) as possible for 6 months after their braces are removed. Eventually, the retainers may be worn every evening and while sleeping (part time) and may even be reduced to nighttime wear only. This will be determined at the follow-up retention appointments by Dr. Harfield or by Dr. French.
For 12 months, we will be monitoring the teeth to be sure that they stay in their corrected positions; however, nighttime retainer wear may last indefinitely even after the retention phase is finished with Dr. Harfield or Dr. French.
Retention Appliances
New Retainer/Appliance Instructions
Congratulations on your new retainer! Here are a few helpful hints that will help you adapt to your new appliance.
- Unless otherwise instructed, your retainer/appliance should be worn as close to 24 hours per day as possible.
- It is important to wear your retainer as instructed. Not wearing your retainer can result in your teeth moving and the retainer not fitting.
- Please carry a retainer case with you wherever you go. (Let us know if you need extra cases.)
- Never wrap the appliance in a napkin, set it on the counter, carry it in your pocket, backpack, etc. *If you take it out of your mouth, no matter where you are, it should always go in a case.*
- Also, be sure to fill out the information on the back of the retainer case in the event that you do lose it.
- Remove your retainer for eating, brushing/flossing and playing contact sports and put it in the case.
- Be careful to take the appliance in and out as instructed to ensure that it does not become distorted or break. To put it in, grip the retainer by the handles at the back, place the wire over your front teeth first with the plastic behind the teeth, then push up firmly on the handles, then push up on the plastic. To remove it, simply pull down on one handle (at the back) and then the other.
- Do not remove the retainer by the front wire, bite it into place or flip it in and out with your tongue.
- When you brush your teeth, brush your retainer with your toothbrush and toothpaste to keep it clean. (Do not use or soak it in hot water as this can distort the plastic!)
- Once every few weeks, you may use a denture-cleaning tablet. This will help prevent build-up. (any brand of denture cleaning tablet can be used and may be purchased in any grocery or drug store)
- If you have an expanding appliance, it is important to do turns as instructed.
To do a turn, grasp the appliance on the acrylic and simply place your key into the hole at the front of the appliance. Carefully turn the key away from the front wire until it stops.
When removing the key, ensure that you remove the key without moving the keyhole. - *Remember, if your retainer is lost or broken, there will be a $275.00 fee to replace it, so remember, “It’s either in your FACE or in the CASE.”
- Lastly, if you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us. We are always here to help!