Bonded Retainers
Now that your braces are off, we have placed a bonded retainer to hold your teeth in their final position. Without a retainer, your teeth might move back to where they once were.
The bonded retainer we placed is actually a wire that is bonded to the backs of your teeth. This type of retainer stays in all the time and should be very comfortable and not noticeable.
We do need your help to maintain your bonded retainer. It is not indestructible. It is very important to keep it clean with good tooth brushing and flossing (use a floss threader if necessary). Continue to use your home fluoride treatment. As with your braces, try to avoid eating excessive amounts of sugary foods and/or junk foods that can cause decay to the teeth your retainer is attached to. If hygiene ever becomes a problem, or if you or your dentist decides for any other reason that you want your retainer removed, we will do so at no charge. However, there will be a charge if you decide you want to replace it with a removable retainer. There will also be a charge to repair your bonded retainer should it ever become loose.
If for any reason your bonded retainer should feel loose, call our office or Dr. Moore immediately! We don’t want to risk the possibility of you swallowing it should it completely off. Then you might need surgery to remove it. YIKES!
We hope you are proud of the way your teeth look. Be sure to have them cleaned and checked by your dentist now and every six months.
Clear Retainers
Importance:
The retainers you get today are a very important part of your treatment. Retainers are just as important as your braces were. Once your teeth are in place, your retainers keep them there. You must wear them as instructed or your teeth may SHIFT out of their final position.
Wear:
These retainers are to be worn only at night while you sleep. Do this until Dr. Moore instructs otherwise.
Cleaning:
Soak them in denture cleaner while they are out of your mouth. Rinse well after soaking. Don’t use toothpaste on them! If you ever feel the need to disinfect your retainers, do not boil them. This will change their shape, and they will no longer fit in your mouth.
Replacing:
Keep your retainers in your CASE when they are not in your mouth. Because they are small, they are easy to misplace. Lost or broken retainers are expensive to replace. If they must be replaced because they no longer fit due to lack of wear, there will be a charge for each retainer. Do not wrap your retainers up in a NAPKIN or leave them around PETS!