RETAINERS

                   Congratulations!

 

 

You did it!  The braces are off and your smile is beautiful.

  Enjoy your new smile and the success it will help you achieve. 

Now what?  The only way to assure that your smile will stay as beautiful as the day the braces came off is with regular retainer wear.  We are here to help.  We'll continue to see you in our office to check the fit of your retainers for atleast one year.  At that time, you will 'graduate' and no longer need to keep regular visits with us.  You'll be able to continue with self-supervised retention for a life long, radiant smile.

Retainers may be removable or fixed. They hold your teeth in their new, correct positions after your teeth have been straightened. We will instruct you on how to care for your retainer and about the duration of the wear. Wearing your retainer as directed is crucial to prevent regression of your treatment.

Retainer Wear

  • Wear your retainers full time, until Dr. Endrizzi instructs otherwise.
  • If you take your retainers out when eating... always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
  • Clean retainers 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 these do not take the place of brushing.
  • When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
  • Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them faster.
  • Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately.
  • If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
  • Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
  • There is a fee for retainer replacement...with proper care they will last for years!
  • Remove retainers when swimming.
  • Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.