Retainers
Once you achieve your stunning new smile, you’ll want to keep it for the rest of your life. All you have to do is wear your retainer to love your smile for a lifetime.
What does a retainer do?
Once your orthodontic treatment with BRIUS®, Invisalign® or braces is complete, you’ll start wearing your custom Vivera™ retainer. Your retainer plays the key role of holding your teeth in their beautiful new position to prevent them from ‘relapsing’.
Once active orthodontic treatment is complete, your teeth are susceptible to ‘orthodontic relapse’, or reverting back to their original pre-treatment positions. Your teeth require a period of retention to ensure that they stabilize in the proper alignment.
How long will I wear a retainer after braces or Invisalign?
At the beginning of your retention phase, you’ll be instructed to wear your retainer full-time for one year. This is how we achieve and maintain the best results.
After about a year, you’ll be able to reduce your wear to nights only. Because teeth have a tendency to shift throughout life, it’s important that you wear your retainer at night, indefinitely.
Types of Retainers
There are two types of retainers, removable retainers and fixed retainers.
Removable Retainers
Removable retainers are similar to Invisalign clear aligners. They can be taken out as needed to eat, clean your teeth, and clean your retainer. We provide the Vivera™ removable retainer, a high-quality, clear retainer made of plastic. It’ll be custom-made to cover the front and back surfaces of your teeth.
Fixed Retainers
Fixed retainers, or permanent retainers, are bonded to your teeth and cannot be removed without your orthodontist. These retainers include a small metal wire, custom-designed to fit behind the teeth. They’re generally bonded to the back surface of the bottom teeth, but can also be used behind the top teeth depending on your condition.
Retainer Do’s and Don’ts
DO
- Do put your retainer in your retainer case every time you remove it from your mouth.
- Do clean your retainer every time you brush your teeth. You can use a mild dish soap and an extra soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your retainer.
- Do clean your retainer case regularly. You want your clean retainer to be placed back in a clean carrying case every time. You can use a mild soap and lukewarm water to wash your retainer case daily, or at least a few times a week.
- Do soak your retainer in a retainer cleaning solution (like Retainer Brite)
DO NOT
- Do not expose your retainers to heat! Your retainer can melt or warp and become ineffective, so it’s important that you do not put them in the dishwasher, use hot water on them, or leave them in your car.
- Do not leave your retainer around your pets. You don’t want to find out how much they love chewing retainers!
How much do retainers cost?
Your retainer cost is separate from your treatment cost and will depend on the type of retainers. At your complimentary consultation, we’ll work out a custom financial plan and discuss your retainer cost.
In the event that you lose or break your retainer, there will be a replacement fee. If you lose or damage your retainer, please let us know as soon as possible. We want you to have a new retainer as soon as possible to prevent your teeth from shifting out of place.
Smile confidently and conveniently.
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