Provider
Retainer Styles for Lasting Smiles
Once your braces come off, we want to make sure that your teeth stay where we’ve put them! A retainer is used to help ensure your teeth stay straight and in the proper alignment.
At South Surrey Smiles we offer three main types of retainers:
- Essix Retainers: Clear, removable retainers made from durable plastic that fit snugly over your teeth and are designed to be discreet and easy to wear.
- Hawley Retainers: Traditional retainers made with a metal wire and acrylic base, typically used in clinical situations, such as when a tooth is missing.
- Fixed (Bonded) Retainers: A thin wire secured to the inside of your teeth to provide continuous support and help maintain alignment over time.
Retainers are the essential final step in your orthodontic journey, and our Smile Protection Program makes this phase easy.
Enrol in Our Smile Protection Program
To help our patients manage costs, we're pleased to offer our Smile Protection Program. When you enrol, you pay a one-time fee to get unlimited replacement retainers over seven years. It's easy, and it takes the worry out of replacing your retainers.
Why You Need a Retainer
After active orthodontic treatment, wearing your retainer is essential to keep your teeth in their desired positions.
If you neglect to wear your removable retainer, you risk letting your teeth shift back into their pre-treatment position, compromising the money, time, and energy you invested during the treatment phase.
Both the lower and upper teeth can easily move when braces are removed, making consistent wear of orthodontic appliances like retainers crucial. While fixed bonded retainers offer some level of continuous support, tooth position relapse can occur if not well-maintained.
Retention procedures are an integral follow-up to any orthodontic treatment. Failing to adhere to these protocols can lead to potential misalignment, making it necessary to undergo orthodontic procedures again.
In short, ensure you prioritize your smile and keep your teeth in their corrected positions by wearing your retainer as advised!
If you ever have questions about your retainer, our team is here to help.
Retainer FAQs
Have questions about retainers? You’re not alone. Below, you’ll find helpful answers to guide you through this important next step in protecting your smile.
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Can teeth shift even with a retainer?
Teeth naturally have a tendency to move over time. Wearing your retainer as instructed helps minimize this movement. Fixed (bonded) retainers can be a great way to maintain your results, but they will require proper care and regular monitoring to ensure they continue to function effectively.
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How long do I need to wear my retainer?
Retainers are typically worn long-term to help maintain the results of your orthodontic treatment. Most patients are advised to wear their retainer full-time at first, then transition to nighttime wear. Dr. Williams will provide specific instructions based on your individual treatment and risk of tooth movement.
It's important to note that even people who have never had orthodontic treatment will experience their teeth shifting over time; orthodontic patients are even more prone to this and should wear retainers for as long as they want straight teeth.
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What happens if I stop wearing my retainer?
If you stop wearing your retainer as instructed, your teeth may gradually shift toward their previous positions. This movement can happen over time, even years after treatment. Consistent retainer wear helps preserve your results and reduce the likelihood of needing additional orthodontic treatment.
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How often should I wear my retainer?
For the first few months of retainer wear after active orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will instruct you to wear your retainer 24 hours a day, every day. This is because these early months of the retention phase are when your teeth are most likely to relapse (shift back to their pre-treatment positions).
During this time, you'll take your retainer out only to eat, brush and floss your teeth, or play sports (when you'll need to wear a sports mouth guard instead).
Over time, your teeth will settle into their new positions, and your risk of relapse will decrease. When your orthodontist has determined you're ready, you'll be able to start wearing your retainer for fewer hours a day. For many people, this means overnight retainer wear only.
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How long do retainers last before they need to be replaced?
With proper care and correct use, most retainers can last for years. The following signs indicate that a new retainer might be in order:
Cracks or Chips
When you start noticing chips or cracks in your retainer, it's time to replace it. This type of damage will only get worse over time, and it will also compromise the structural integrity of the retainer, making it less effective.
Poor Fit
Retainers are designed to be sturdy and durable, but they may start to loosen over time with wear. It's important to replace your retainer if you notice that the fit is loose, because at that point, it is no longer effectively supporting your teeth.
Excessive Buildup
You should be cleaning your retainer regularly to keep it in good shape. However, even if you're doing this, stubborn buildup can occur over time. If your retainer has buildup that can't be removed with a thorough cleaning, it should be replaced.
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Can I eat or drink while wearing my retainer?
Removable retainers should generally be taken out while eating or drinking anything other than water. This helps prevent damage, staining, and buildup. Fixed retainers remain in place during meals, but maintaining good oral hygiene is especially important.
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How do I clean my retainer properly?
If you wear a removable retainer, clean it at least once daily with a soft-bristled tooth brush and some mild, unscented liquid soap. This removes food debris, plaque and bacteria. Rinse the retainer with cool or room temperature water to remove the soap when you're done.
We also suggest soaking your retainer using specially formulated retainer cleaning tablets dissolved in water as needed. This can help loosen any stubborn buildup and leave your retainer feeling fresh.
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How do I store my retainer?
When you're not wearing or cleaning your retainer, it's important to store it somewhere safe so it doesn't get lost or damaged. We recommend storing your retainer in the case it comes in any time it's not in your mouth.
Always remember to clean and dry your retainer and its carrying case thoroughly first, to prevent bacteria from forming.
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What happens if I forget to put my retainer in?
It's important to wear your retainer as prescribed by your orthodontist to ensure that your orthodontic treatment results are maintained.
That said, if you occasionally forget to wear your retainer for short periods of time, you probably have nothing to worry about. Just go back to wearing it consistently as soon as you remember.
Keep in mind that if you don't wear your retainer consistently, there's a chance your teeth could shift out of position, and you'll require more corrective orthodontic treatment to realign them. To avoid this, prioritize wearing your retainer as prescribed.