Once the teeth are moved to their corrected positions, they must be held in place or “retained” while the surrounding tissues and bones adapt. There is a strong tendency for teeth to shift back to their original positions (relapse) following orthodontic treatment, and some amount of shifting is to be expected. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far. Typically, retainers should be worn full time (except while eating and brushing) for the first six months. After that, they are worn in the evening and while sleeping.
Caring for your Retainer
- Handle your retainer carefully!
- Avoid biting your retainer into place.
- Avoid continuously “flicking” your retainer on and off with your tongue.
- Avoid wrapping your retainer in a napkin while eating. Always place the retainer in a hard plastic case when it’s not being worn.
- Brush your retainer daily with a hand brush and soap.
- Soak your retainer in denture cleanser weekly.
- Never boil your retainer to clean it; this will cause distortion!
Lower Bonded Retainers
Since the lower front teeth most commonly experience shifting or relapse, we use a bonded lower retainer. This type of retainer fits more intimately with the teeth than a removable retainer and is worn continuously without affecting speech. Use floss threaders with dental floss or a mechanical device such as the Flosser (Water Pik®) or the Hummingbird (Oral B®) to clean between the lower teeth.