Retainers - Mt. Vernon, OH
Maintain Your Beautiful Smile with a Retainer
Completing orthodontic treatment is a major accomplishment, so naturally you want to maintain your beautiful results. That means that you’ll need to wear a retainer. If worn as prescribed, these devices are designed to help keep your teeth in their ideal position once you are done with Invisalign or braces. Here’s a little more information about retainers, including how to take care of them so they can continue to protect your smile for as long as possible.
Why Choose Wigal Orthodontics for Your Retainer
- Orthodontists with years of experience
- Cutting edge dental technology for more accurate results
- We welcome many dental insurance plans
What are Retainers?
Available in both removable and fixed varieties, a retainer is a device that is worn following orthodontic treatment to help retain the new positioning of your teeth.
- Hawley Retainers: Hawley retainers are made of acrylic and wire and can be worn on the bottom or top teeth. These can be removed to eat or clean your teeth and can be adjusted if necessary.
- Essix / Clear Retainers: These resemble clear aligner trays, and are made of clear, BPA-free plastic. They fit over your teeth but are a bit thicker than aligner trays, so they last longer.
- Permanent Retainers: These are sometimes referred to as lingual retainers or fixed retainers and consist of a thin metal wire that is cemented to the back of the teeth to hold it permanently in place. It is not removable, except by a dental professional, and though you’ll need to be extra diligent flossing around it, you’ll likely forget you have it once you get used to it.
How are Retainers Made & Placed?
Your new retainer is made from impressions your orthodontist takes of your teeth using dental putty. To do this, putty will be added to trays and inserted into your mouth, over your teeth. This creates an imprint of your unique smile in the putty. It takes about two minutes for the putty to harden enough to make a solid impression. Next, the impression will be sent to a dental laboratory where the mold will be used to create your retainer. It should be ready for you to pick up and begin wearing it in about one week.
In some cases, your orthodontist may use digital impressions to make your retainer. This is done with a handheld wand that captures images of your teeth and gums and then sends them to a computer. The computer software then stitches all the images together and creates a 3D model of your mouth from which your retainer will be crafted at the dental laboratory.
For fixed retainers, your orthodontist will use a metal wire to measure the correct placement on the back sides of the teeth. Using a dental cement, the wire will then be secured in place. Though it does take a few minutes longer than making a dental impression with putty, your retainer will be ready instantly and you won’t have to wait for it to be delivered from the lab.
Tips on Caring for Your Retainer
To protect your retainer and prevent it from getting lost or damaged, follow these helpful tips:
- Always remove your retainer to eat.
- When you aren’t wearing it, place it back in its case.
- Never chew gum while wearing your retainer.
- Do not store it in a pocket, purse, or backpack unless it is in its case.
- Don’t wrap it in napkins when not in use, as this can make it easy to lose and accidentally throw away.
- Never store it in a hot place such as a car or stovetop.
- Keep it away from small children and pets.
- Always brush and floss your teeth thoroughly before putting your retainer back in your mouth.
- Clean it once a day with antibacterial soap and water.
- Rinse it with warm water after brushing and flossing your teeth
- You can soak it in effervescent retainer cleaner but ask your orthodontist which method is best for your specific retainer.
- Should it become discolored, gently scrub it with water, baking soda, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
