We'll have your retainers made as soon as possible so they're ready for you to collect within the next day or two. If it's any longer, your teeth are at risk of moving. Pick up your retainers as soon as possible and start wearing them full-time (unless you're eating, drinking or brushing your teeth).
Being fitted for a retainer usually happens on the same day your braces are removed. They take approximately 45 minutes to make so you may be asked to come back the same day in the afternoon to receive your retainer.
Retainers are aligner trays you're usually given after completing treatment with traditional braces. They're used to keep your teeth in their new place.
In many cases, a patient's saliva will be enough to reduce the intensity of discolorations and differences in shades after their braces are removed. However, if six months pass and your teeth are still looking discolored, teeth whitening after braces may be necessary to create a whiter, healthier-looking smile.
We'll have your retainers made as soon as possible so they're ready for you to collect within the next day or two. If it's any longer, your teeth are at risk of moving. Pick up your retainers as soon as possible and start wearing them full-time (unless you're eating, drinking or brushing your teeth).
Clear retainers are the most common and most requested type of retainer Advanced Orthodontics offers. They are made in our office the same day you get your braces removed. A plastic material is vacuum formed to the plaster mold taken of your teeth.
It's normal for a retainer to be uncomfortable, tight, or a bit painful for the first few days of wearing it. Even if the discomfort extends to a full week, it's still usually not a cause for alarm. However, if you experience retainer pain for more than a full week, it's time to call your orthodontist.
Retainers are designed to keep your teeth in place, choosing to not wear it for a long period of time will cause some issues. It's fine to miss a day or two because your teeth won't move much during that time. If you go without it much longer than that, then your teeth will start to shift again.
If you accidentally forget to wear your removable retainer for a day or two, don't worry too much. Resume your retainer regimen as instructed, and you should be fine. If it's been longer than that, such as weeks, or even months, try it on to see if it still fits.
How many hours should you wear your retainer? The first three months after you've completed your orthodontic treatment you need to wear your retainers full-time, which means approximately 22 hours a day. That does mean you will need to sleep with them. However, you can remove them when you eat or brush your teeth.
Not only do you have to wear a retainer after you complete your treatment, but your orthodontist will definitely know if you've really been keeping up with it.
Plaque, tartar, and bacteria can accumulate on your retainer's surface, just as they do on your teeth. This buildup contributes to the unpleasant odor you may notice. While brushing and flossing your teeth are important for keeping these things in check, you should also regularly clean your retainer.
It's OK to drink water while wearing the retainers, but remove them if you drink other beverages. If you forget to wear your retainer, wear the retainer full-time for few days to re-align your teeth. Your teeth may be sore while they re-align.
The best and most efficient way to treat an overbite is through orthodontic treatment. We recommend patients use braces and a retainer to correct their overbite.
If you miss a day here and there, it's not a big deal. However, if you continually skip wearing your retainer, especially in the three years post-treatment, it can cause issues. If you skip or lose your retainer for a week, it's possible to have some small amount of relapse.
For foods like ice and hard candies, the consensus is to not bite down on them. It's OK to leave them in your mouth to dissolve, but do not attempt to chew them. Any type of food that could become lodged in between your teeth and the retainer or break your retainer should be avoided.
Never pull on the center of the wire. You should always be sure that your retainers are seated completely. Do not allow them to “flop” around. Don't leave your retainers in a hot car or put in hot water (such as a boiling them or putting them into the dishwasher.)
Precautions to take with retainers
You can not eat sticky or chewy food like gum or candies with the retainer. You should not eat food with artificial coloring as it will stain your teeth and retainer. Brushing and flossing your teeth before and after wearing your retainers is vital.
Some things to NEVER do to clean your retainer! Do NOT use toothpaste or anything abrasive; it will scratch your retainer, causing bacteria to build up and make it look cloudy.
You can do a quick mouthwash soak if you want to freshen your retainer's smell and kill some bacteria. Be sure to mix equal parts mouthwash and lukewarm water. If your mouthwash contains alcohol, only soak your retainer in this type of a solution occasionally. Alcohol can harm your retainer's plastic.
Retainers quickly accumulate plaque and begin to yellow if they are not properly cleaned after each wear. Collected plaque on retainer can lead to yellowing of teeth.
People hope to have a flawless smile after they have gone through orthodontic treatment. But sadly, it might not always be the case that your teeth are perfectly aligned even after you take your braces off. Despite having the best dentist, it is difficult to predict the exact outcome of any teeth straightening process.
How long does a retainer hurt? It's natural for your retainer to hurt for at least the first day after being fitted, as your mouth adjusts to the novel sensation. Discomfort typically only lasts for four to five days – a week at most.
Not only will the orthodontist explain every part of the treatment and payment options, but they will also listen to any concerns or questions the patient has. They will make sure to answer the question thoroughly and make sure that everything was covered.
Numerous people think that adult teeth won't change or move over their lifetime because they're permanent. This is false: adult teeth do and can shift over time, whether or not you had braces as a teenager or child. So yes, teeth move overnight, though the change might be imperceptible at first.