When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. The retention phase lasts for a minimum of 24 months. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far. Remember to remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer before placing it back in your mouth.
Removable Retainers
Maxillary wrap-around retainers are your upper retainers, which are removable. You must be very careful when handling your upper retainers, as they are fragile and costly to replace. You are given a special case for your retainer; please make sure you keep them in this case when not wearing it! To clean these retainers, brush them with toothpaste (sometimes with denture cleaner) using warm water.
Your retainers should be worn at all times with the exception of eating and brushing your teeth. Your retainer should also be removed when participating in sports that require a mouth guard or while swimming. After 6 months of full-time wear, we may revise your retention treatment, allowing the retainer to strictly be worn at night.
Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far.
Retention Time
You/your child’s next visit is scheduled for braces removal. We are now entering the retention phase of treatment. This is a very important part of treatment to prevent relapse. Relapse is the tendency of teeth to go back to their original position after orthodontic treatment is complete. This tendency is very high, at least 60% or more chance, in orthodontics. There are two basic types of retainers: removable and fixed. Removable retainers have the advantage of easier oral hygiene, but the disadvantage of not being worn or lost/damaged. Fixed retainers are cemented into place, so cooperation is not an issue, but have greater hygiene difficulties and they can also be broken.
The treatment fee includes retention for both upper and lower arches. There are additional fees for lost or broken retainers. A fixed retainer will carry a 6 month warranty, and then will carry a fee for repair or replacement. For patients who choose a fixed retainer, we will provide a clear lower retainer to fit over the fixed retainer to be worn at bedtime.
Our typical retention protocol is a removable maxillary retainer, since fixed maxillary retainers have a greater risk for breakage. A removable mandibular retainer is preferable from a hygiene perspective, but, the lower incisors are very likely to shift with poor cooperation. The more crowded the incisors are at the beginning of treatment, the more likely a fixed retainer should be considered. We recommend that a fixed retainer stay in for no more than 5 years and then continue with the clear retainer. This will hopefully minimize the hygiene difficulties associated with fixed retention.
If there are any questions, please notify the assistant that you have questions for the orthodontist.
Thank you and congratulations on entering the completion of active treatment.