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Retention

Maintaining Your New Dazzling Smile

The retention phase is one of the most important steps in the orthodontic treatment process. Finishing your braces or clear aligner treatment and seeing your new beautiful smile can be an exciting time! However, to maintain your new smile, you will need to regularly wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from shifting. If you do not regularly wear a retainer, your teeth could shift back into their previous positions and necessitate further orthodontic treatment. At High Line Orthodontics, Dr. Pompei will help you select the right retainer for you, and direct you on how to best care for it.

Types of Retainers

At High Line Orthodontics, we offer a few different retainer options. These include:

  • Traditional retainers: These removable retainers are made of metal wires and acrylic material. The metal wire wraps around the front of the teeth of the upper and lower arches

  • Fixed retainers: Unlike traditional retainers and clear retainers, fixed retainers adhere to the backside of the teeth and cannot be removed. These retainers are usually made for the lower 6 front teeth, and follow the curve of your arch

  • Clear retainers: Clear retainers are similar to Invisalign, Spark and other clear aligner systems. These removable retainers are made of smooth, comfortable plastic, and are more discreet than traditional retainers

Removable Vs. Fixed Retainers

Both removable (traditional or clear) and fixed retainers have their benefits. There are a few things to keep in mind when considering retainers. Removable retainers can be removed when eating, drinking, brushing and flossing. This makes it easier to properly clean your teeth. However, because they are removable, they can be easily damaged or lost if not properly cared for. On the other hand, fixed retainers are a good option if you do not want to keep track of a removable retainer, but do make it more difficult to properly floss and brush your teeth.

Retainer Care Tips

It’s important to take good care of your retainers! Removable retainers in particular can easily be damaged or lost if not properly cared for.

  • Be gentle when removing your retainers and putting them back in

  • Always return your retainers to their case when you are not wearing them. Do not wrap them in a napkin, or they could accidentally be thrown away

  • Store your retainers away from heat, such as stoves or a hot car. The heat can cause your retainers to warp

  • Keep retainers away from small children and pets

  • Regularly clean your retainers to avoid plaque and bacteria buildup

Dr. Pompei working on patient

How Long Do I Need To Wear My Retainer?

When you first get your retainer, we will explain how often you will need to wear your retainers and the best practices for taking care of them. Each patient’s case is unique. Dr. Pompei customizes her recommended retention protocol based on how much teeth were moved, the kinds of appliances that were used to move them, and the dynamic environment of your particular bite. Regardless, some kind of regular retainer wear is needed for as long as you want to keep your teeth straight.

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