Retainers

After the completion of an orthodontic treatment, it is extremely important to wear retainers. It is essential as your teeth can lose their alignment throughout growth and even in adulthood.

Retainers are either removable or fixed to your teeth. Removable retainers can be made either from wires and hard plastic (where you only see a thin horizontal wire on the front of your teeth), or from soft clear plastic (which fits over your teeth a little like a mouthguard). Fixed or bonded retainers are made from a fine piece of special wire that is stuck to the back of the teeth so that it is not visible from the front. Having taken various factors into consideration, your orthodontist will determine which retainer or combination of retainers is suitable for your teeth.

Removable retainers are worn every night for the first year and every other night indefinitely as long as you want your teeth to remain straight! This is called ‘long-term retention’. Fixed or bonded retainers are ideally fitted as soon as braces are removed, as a scan or impression is taken for removable retainers and these should fit over the wires.  You should expect ‘long-term retention’ with bonded retainers, keeping them on for as long as possible.

After orthodontic treatment, when your braces are removed, your teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilised. Retainers stabilise teeth in their corrected, ideal positions so that the jaw bone and gum surrounding the teeth have an opportunity to adapt to the treatment changes. If you don’t wear retainers the irregularity of your teeth is likely to relapse to some degree, and it will be very hard to correct again. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best guarantee of keeping your teeth straight for a lifetime.

For the first 2-5 days of having your removable retainers, you may experience some very minor discomfort in your mouth. The retainers may feel a little tight, and parts of them may rub on your gum, lips, cheeks or tongue. Soon you will get used to wearing your retainers, and your speech will go back to normal. If you leave your retainers out for too long because of the initial discomfort, they will feel much more uncomfortable when you start wearing them once more.

If you continue to have discomfort beyond the first few days, contact the practice so that an emergency appointment can be arranged as soon as possible to adjust your retainer. Don’t just wait for your next appointment without the retainers being worn: this could lead to relapse (a return of the irregularity of your teeth).

If you don’t wear retainers the irregularity of your teeth is likely to relapse to some degree, and you would need to wear braces again. In certain cases where the bite was corrected during the growth period, it will be very hard to correct again if retainers are not worn. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best guarantee of keeping your teeth straight for a lifetime.

• Do not leave your removable retainers lying around outside their container. Do not carry the retainers loose in your pockets or your bag. Do not wrap up your retainers in tissue paper or a napkin and then leave them lying around. To avoid damage to, or loss of your retainers, always store them in their container/box when they are not being worn.
• To keep your retainers clean, brush them with your regular toothbrush and toothpaste whenever you brush your own teeth. You may wish to purchase retainer cleaning tablets and use them as instructed.
• Only use lukewarm water, never use hot water as the clear removable retainers can shrink and get damaged.
• Always insert or remove your retainers according to your orthodontist’s instructions. Do not get into the habit of clicking them in and out or using your tongue to put them in place or take them out. This can be damaging to your teeth and your retainers.

Retainers do not work in your pocket! You are usually advised by your orthodontist to wear your retainers every night for the first year following the completion of your active treatment and every other night for the rest of your life, for as long as you want your teeth to remain straight! This is called ‘long-term retention’.
Going on holiday is not an exception to this rule! Make sure you put them at the top of your packing list. Always store them in a small rigid container to avoid damage to or loss of your retainer.

You should brush your teeth thoroughly preferably after each meal. Take a travel brush with you to school or work so that you can brush after lunch. Use a fluoride mouthwash or brush with a fluoride gel last thing at night after tooth brushing.

Regardless of the type of orthodontic treatment you are having, you should always continue to arrange six-monthly check-ups with your dentist.

Contact the practice as soon as possible for an emergency appointment and/or advice. Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment as this may result in unwanted tooth movement. Very occasionally we may be able to remake your retainer in your absence; or repair it if someone else brings in the damaged retainer. A charge is made for replacing very damaged, unrepairable or lost retainers. Repeated damage to, or loss of your retainers will result in partial relapse of the original condition of your bite.

Fitting a fixed retainer does not hurt. Because it is fitted to the back of the teeth, your tongue may take a few days to get used to its presence, and generally any discomfort is very minor and temporary. There may be a slight effect on your speech for the first few days.

The main potential cause of problems with a fixed retainer is inadequate toothbrushing. Plaque can accumulate around the fixed retainer, causing damage to the enamel of your teeth (tooth decay). As long as you brush well, and also use a fluoride mouthwash or gel you are unlikely to have this problem.
Do not touch or pick at your fixed retainer. Do not use a toothpick to clean around it. Always use a toothbrush to clean your fixed retainer. You may also use a special kind of floss called Superfloss to clean in between your teeth.

Without your fixed retainer, the irregularity of your teeth is likely to relapse to some degree, and it may be hard to correct again. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best guarantee of keeping your teeth straight for a lifetime.

You should expect to keep a fixed/bonded retainer on for as long as possible. That is to say for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight. This is called ‘long-term retention’.

Regardless of the type of orthodontic treatment you are having, you should always continue to arrange six-monthly check-ups with your dentist.

Contact the practice as soon as possible for an emergency appointment and/or advice. Do not wait for your next scheduled appointment as this may result in unwanted tooth movement. Maintenance of your fixed retainer will be carried out free of charge for up to 12 months following the completion of your active treatment. After this, a fee is charged for repair or replacement of your retainers.