Retention
When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. Retention and retainers are designed to retain, or keep, your teeth straight.
For our patients who have completed their First Phase of treatment the retainer is worn only at night to bed until all the permanent teeth erupt. First Phase patients are maintaining the improvements we have made until they are ready for their Second Phase, or final set of braces.
For our patients completing their active treatment, the retainer is worn all the time 24/7 for 6 weeks. After this, the retainers are worn only to bed each night. Once the wisdom teeth have either erupted correctly or been removed the retainers can be worn less often. Straight teeth require maintenance, so I suggest wearing the retainers on a regular basis for the rest of your life. Brush, floss,you’re your retainer in! You cannot stop brushing your teeth and you cannot stop wearing your retainer if you want to keep your results.
For some patients we make use of bonded, or permanent, retainers. This are usually wires cemented to the back side of your teeth where they are not visible. These wires then hold the teeth in their final positions. These are marvelous when needed because you cannot forget to wear them!
