Retainers in Mount Pleasant & Sulphur Springs, TX
Keep Your Smile Steady
You’ve worked hard on your beautiful new smile, so it’s important to keep it that way!
Your teeth have gotten used to moving around, so even after your treatment is finished, they may try to shift back to where they were before.
Retainers help your teeth stay put while all the muscles and bones around your jaws settle into their new positions.
Removable and Fixed Retainers
Removable retainers come in two main styles: traditional and aligner-style.
Traditional retainers are made with metal wire and an acrylic arch, and they cover the front teeth while the arch sits in the roof of the mouth.
Aligner-style retainers are similar to Invisalign or uLab clear aligners. Clear retainers are made from a mold of your new smile once treatment is finished, and they can either clip onto your front teeth or cover the whole arch end-to-end.
Fixed retainers are bonded directly behind the teeth, similar to traditional braces, and may be placed on top or bottom teeth. Fixed retainers are durable and hold the teeth in place well, and they’re often kept in place permanently.
Pros & Cons
- Removable retainers are easy to take when you need to eat or brush your teeth
- Removable retainers are easier to lose or break, so keep it in the case any time you take it out. And don’t forget to clean it!
- Fixed retainers are great because you can’t lose them, and you don’t have to remember to wear it every day
- Fixed retainers take more effort to clean around, since you need to thread floss underneath wires to get between your teeth
Retainer Instructions
- Wear your retainer as the doctor instructs.
- Take your retainer out when eating, and always put it back in its case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
- Clean the retainer thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent© or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of brushing.
- When your retainer is not in your mouth, it should ALWAYS be in its case. Pets love to chew on them!
- Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to it faster.
- Retainers are breakable, so treat yours with care. If your retainer gets lost or broken, call us immediately.
- If you have any questions or concerns about your retainer, or you believe it needs adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust it yourself.
- Always bring your retainer to your appointments.
- Retainer replacements are expensive, but with proper care they will last for years!
- Remove your retainer when you go swimming.
- Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.