Retention

When we remove your braces or finish your aligners, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. During retention, we ask that you wear your retainers as directed as the teeth are still establishing their final position and your results will depend on how good you wear your retainers. You will receive written directions.

Many retainers can last many years or normal wear, but sometimes they can be broken or lost. Please follow directions to get the most life out of your retainers. As always if you need a new retainer we are here for you.

We offer a complimentary retainer cleaning service, which is available upon request.

Hawley Retainers

These retainers are used like any other, to keep the teeth in place. We use these retainers mostly to allow teeth to continue to settle into place. If you look at the design of the retainer they hold the teeth from the front and the back and they allow the teeth to move up and down. When there is the desire for this type of movement to happen we will often use this type of retainer. If the Hawley doesn’t fit, the clasp is broken, the dog ate it or it was lost, we need to schedule an appointment to adjust it or take an impression for a new one.

Fixed Retainers

A fixed retainer is bonded or glued to the backside of certain teeth to give extra stability and reassurance against relapses such as recrowding or respacing. We often placed a fixed retainer on many of our patients. We also use the fixed retainer and an under retainer and give the patients an invisible retainer to wear over the fixed. There is always a chance the fixed retainer can break, especially if the patient isn’t careful with the foods they are eating. If a fixed retainer becomes loose, we will need to see the patient re-cement it, add adhesive or remove completely. Please do not lose the fixed retainer if it comes off.