The day that you have anxiously waited for has arrived. We have removed the braces from your teeth. In their place we have fit a retainer which in many ways is more important than the braces. It is the retainer which will "hold" your teeth in their new positions much like a cast is used on a broken arm or leg.
The responsibility for wearing retainers falls squarely upon you, the patient. Failure to wear your appliance as instructed may result in some movement of teeth toward their former positions. When this occurs the first indication will be that the retainer no longer fits properly.
Now that most or all of the braces have been removed, we strongly recommend a visit to your family dentist for a thorough examination and cleaning. The absence of braces will permit your dentist to reexamine all teeth more thoroughly than in the past.
The following are some tips for the patient with retainers on how to wear and care for them:
1. If your retainer is ever removed when eating, do not wrap it in a paper napkin as it can easily be forgotten and lost in such camouflage. When retainers are not being worn they should be kept in the container provided.
2. Brush your retainer just as you do your teeth after each meal and before it is replaced in your mouth.
3. If a retainer is broken, irritates the mouth, does not fit, or is lost call our office "immediately". Keep all broken pieces and bring them in with you. Repair is less costly if we can use the wires.
4. Dogs, for some reason, enjoy chewing on retainers; please keep them out of your pet's range of "hunting"!
5. Do not boil retainers or leave them in a hot place.
6. Do not flip retainers with your tongue or the wires will fatigue and break.
7. Retainers can be worn during most athletic activities, except possibly water sports.
The loss or breakage of removable or bonded requires new impressions, new appliance fabrication or repair and further appointments. At this time such replacement will have an additional fee dependent upon the type of retainer required. Payment is due at the time of the impression.
Should you have any questions, please contact us.
