RETENTION – THE FINAL PHASE

Once the teeth are moved to their corrected positions, they must be held in place or “retained” while the surrounding tissues and bones adapt. Research has shown that teeth continue to shift or move throughout a person’s lifetime. Interestingly this shifting occurs even in people who have not had orthodontics. However, 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. So it is very important that retainers be worn exactly as instructed to help maintain the results. Typically, retainers should be worn full time (except eating and brushing) for the first six months. After that, they are worn in the evening and while sleeping.

RETAINER CARE

  • Retainers should be handled very carefully when placing and removing them.
  • Avoid biting them into place.
  • Avoid continuously “flicking” retainers with your tongue or wrapping them in a napkin while eating, as this could result in lost or damaged retainers.
  • If retainers are not worn as instructed, the teeth can shift very quickly resulting in crooked or crowded teeth.
  • Brush the retainer each time you brush your teeth. A hand brush and soap will clean more effectively than a toothbrush.
  • Soak retainers in denture cleanser weekly or more often as necessary to keep them clean. Always place the retainer in a hard plastic case when it’s not being worn.
  • Never boil a retainer as this will irreversibly distort the appliance.

LOWER BONDED RETAINER
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.

CLEANING
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.