A retainer is an important part of any orthodontic treatment as it is designed to keep the teeth where the braces moved them. Wearing a retainer as instructed is the key to maintaining the success of your treatment for life.
There are a variety of retainer designs available; Dr. Kirk will recommend the type of retainer that will best suit your specific needs.
Take care of your retainers. Preserve the healthy, beautiful smile that you worked hard for!
Retainer Instructions
- Wear your retainer as prescribed by Dr. Kirk
- Remove you retainer for eating, brushing/flossing, and sports where it may become dislodged
- Always keep your retainer in it's case when it's not in your mouth (as Dr. Chris likes to say, it's "in the case or in your face!")
- It's very easy to throw away if placed in a napkin, and family pets love to eat retainers!
- Clean the retainer every time you take it out by rinsing it under cool water and scrubbing it inside and outside with a soft-bristled toothbrush
- We recommend not using toothpaste, but rather using hand soap or just water on your toothbrush
- You may find your retainer a little funny to speak with at first, but this will improve as your tongue adapts to having it there
- If the retainer is accidentally bent or feels different than before, please discontinue wear and give us a call
- Never try to fix your retainer yourself
- Bring your retainer to every follow up appointment
- For fixed retainers, it's important to brush and floss thoroughly to avoid build-up of plaque or tartar around the appliance, with can lead to gum disease and cavities
