Retainers
Once your braces or clear aligner treatment comes to end, you’ll start wearing your retainer. Your retainer is critical for solidifying your beautiful new smile.
Our orthodontists, Dr. Saxe and Dr. Drowley, are here to guide you every step of the way—from your initial consultation to your retention phase.
What do retainers do?
Retainers are designed to hold your teeth in their final position. Whether you undergo orthodontic treatment or not, your teeth will shift over time. It’s only natural!
Wearing a retainer after braces or clear aligner therapy ensures that your teeth don’t “relapse” back to their previous, pre-treatment position.
When you first start wearing your retainer, you’ll be instructed to wear it for 24 hours, throughout the day and night.
After about 2 months, you’ll be able to reduce your wear to nights only! We recommend that you wear your retainer every night, for life, to keep your smile in the best possible shape.
Retainers Cost
The cost of your retainer is included in your treatment plan! We’ll provide a retainer for the dental arch(es) being treated, at no additional cost.
If you lose or break your retainer, you will be responsible for a replacement fee. That’s why it’s important to be cautious with your retainer and take excellent care of it. Mistakes happen, though! If you find yourself with a damaged or misplaced retainer, please call us immediately. We want to get this taken care of as soon as possible to ensure that your teeth don’t relapse or shift out of alignment.
Types of Retainers
There are a number of different types of retainers, including removable retainers and fixed retainers (permanent retainers).
The Hawley retainer is a removable retainer, made of special acrylic material and wire. The acrylic covers part of the palate, behind the teeth. There’s a small metal wire that spans across the front surface of the teeth, with wires that fit between the back teeth to hold the retainer in place. This retainer is designed to fit comfortably in the mouth, holding the dental arch in place.
The acryclic plates come in a variety of fun colors and patterns, so you can add a little pizzazz to your smile.
The Essix retainer is another type of removable retainer, made of a special, high-quality transparent plastic. These retainers are very similar to clear aligners. They’re made to cover the front, back, and chewing surfaces of the teeth to support your new smile. Essix retainers are a favorite among our patients, because they’re practically invisible and esthetically-appealing!
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Caring for Your Retainer
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Still have questions about retainers?
We’re more than happy to answer your questions! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time. We want to provide you with the resources, information and advice you need to experience a beautiful smile and a smooth treatment process.
Ready to take the first step toward your new smile? Get started by requesting a complimentary consultation with top orthodontists in the Las Vegas area today.
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