Retainer Frequently Asked Questions
- When will the patient receive their retainers?
We give one set of clear retainers on the day the patient gets the braces
off. We recommend that the patient purchase a second (back-up) set of retainers.
THE RETAINERS SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED WITH FINGERNAILS as they may crack. The
patient should remove them from the back teeth area with the fingertips of
their index fingers. These retainers will help the teeth make the transition
from braces to a life without braces. They wear down and let the teeth contact
by allowing holes to be created within the retainer where the teeth come in
contact.
- How much should the patient wear the retainers?
We recommend the patient start out wearing the retainers every night during
a normal 8-hour sleep period. During the day, one should try wearing the upper
retainer in the morning and the lower retainer in the afternoon, which will
give them about 6 hours use of each retainer. This makes speaking much easier
during the daytime hours. The retainers should be taken off during eating. Many
people find that wearing the retainers just at night (during sleep) for 8
hours may be enough. If the patient grinds their teeth at night, they should
consider getting a night guard to use instead of the retainers during the
night, and wear the retainers during the day. The patient should determine
the most convenient schedule for them. If the retainers feel tight the next
time the patient puts them in their mouth, one may need to wear the retainers
more often on a temporary basis. A gradual way to reduce the amount of time
one wears the retainers without the teeth shifting may be to reduce one hour
per week, so within three to four months, the patient may be wearing the retainers
only to bed. Within 6 months to a year, one may find that they only need to
wear the retainers a few minutes every day. If the patient finds that they
still need to wear them a lot, they should ask the doctor to examine the retainers.
It may be that the doctor needs to adjust the shape of the teeth a bit. Sometimes,
it’s just a little corner of the tooth that doesn’t settle and it’s best to
smooth and contour it. Once again, everybody is different. As the years go
by, some people wear the retainers for 10-15 minutes once a day while they
shave, shower or put on makeup. Remember that teeth age and, like the rest
of the body, they can get crooked again as the patient ages. A little bit
of retainer use can help in that regard. We do not recommend using permanent
retainers (either fixed or removable) as they do not allow the teeth to adapt
and settle on their own for a life without constant retainer wear. The retainers
are like “crutches”; they’re not supposed to be for life, but only temporary
as the years go by.
- How should the retainers be cared for?
The patient should keep the retainers away from extreme heat, such as in
the glove compartment or on the dashboard of a car. One should gently clean
the retainers in the morning with a toothbrush or denture cleaner. The retainers
should not be boiled in water. If the retainers break or are lost, the patient
should not delay getting a new retainer, especially if the braces have been
recently removed. Each set of clear retainers costs $250. If retainers are
lost and no backup set is available, the patient should buy a mouth guard
from the store and mold it around their teeth to keep them straight until
they can schedule an office visit. If the patient’s teeth move due to not
using their retainer, braces may be necessary again. The typical cost for
second treatment is about half of the original fees.
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