The day braces come off is exciting, but the fibres around your teeth need months to settle. Without retainers, teeth drift back towards where they started.
Types of retainer
- Removable clear retainer: a thin transparent tray, worn mostly at night.
- Removable wire retainer: an acrylic plate with a wire across the front teeth; durable and adjustable.
- Fixed retainer: a fine wire bonded behind the front teeth, invisible and always working.
Many patients have a fixed retainer on the lower teeth and a removable one for the upper teeth.
How long do I wear them?
Typically full time for the first few months, then every night. Long term, wearing retainers a few nights a week keeps your result for life. Follow the schedule your dentist gives you.
Caring for retainers
- Rinse and brush removable retainers gently with cool water
- Keep them in their case whenever they are out of your mouth
- Keep them away from heat, including hot water and a car dashboard
- Clean around a fixed retainer with floss threaders or interdental brushes
Signs you need a check
A retainer that feels tight, a fixed wire that has come loose, or a tooth that looks like it has moved. Come in early: small movements are easy to correct, large ones may need treatment again.
Lost or broken retainer?
Contact us straight away. Teeth can begin to shift within days, and a replacement is quick to make.
The Esthetic Zone is on the 4th Floor, R-Square Building, Masaki, opposite IST School. Call +255 760 393 333 or message us on WhatsApp to book an orthodontic assessment.
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