Taking off your braces is exciting but knowing how important are retainers after braces will help you keep your new smile perfect for years to come. At Specialty Smiles we stress that the retention phase is one of the most important parts of effective treatment. If you don’t wear your retainer properly after getting your braces off, your teeth will move back to where they were before and you will ruin the great results you worked so hard to get. Setting up good retainer habits after getting your braces off will make them work better and last longer. We recommend washing detachable retainers daily with warm water and mild soap. Don’t use hot water or harsh chemicals as these can damage or change the material. Also, keeping retainers in their cases when not in use keeps them safe from pets and accidental disposal and from getting lost.
The amount of time patients need to wear their braces varies from person to person depending on how complex their treatment is, how old they are and how likely they are to relapse when the braces are taken off. Most patients start by wearing their retainer full-time for a few months. As their teeth become more stable they slowly switch to wearing it only at night. Some people need to wear their braces for longer periods of time during the day to keep their teeth in place especially those who had a lot of movement in their teeth while they were wearing braces.
North Miami patients often ask how long they will need to wear their retainer after getting their braces. Most orthodontists recommend wearing the retainer for life to get the best results but the schedule for wearing it usually gets easier over time. Regular visits let us monitor how well you’re keeping your teeth straight and we can change the rules as needed to make sure you do well after your braces come off.
Modern retainer technology is getting better with better materials and manufacturing methods that help patients who are finishing their braces treatment. Digital impressions and computer-aided design make retainers that fit better and are more comfortable than older methods. These advancements yield better fitting devices that patients use more consistently resulting in better long term treatment outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.
When setting up retention care after braces removal protecting your investment is an important thing to consider. Orthodontic treatment is expensive so it’s important to follow the rules for using a retainer to protect this big investment. The cost of replacing and maintaining a retainer is very low compared to the cost of getting your teeth fixed again if they move back to where they were before. We also offer full Invisalign for North Miami patients who want a more discreet way to straighten their teeth than traditional braces. Our team knows retention care has its own set of challenges and works with each patient to create customized plans. Call Specialty Smiles today to discuss your post-braces retention needs and keep your beautiful smile straight for life.