After the active phase of treatment is complete, the braces are removed and we enter the retention phase. At this time the retainers are always worn 24hrs a day. The orthodontist will decide when the teeth have become sufficiently stable to go to part time wear. Retainers are generally worn for approximately 2 years after the braces have been removed. It is your responsibility to wear the retainers as directed to prevent a partial relapse of your original orthodontic problem while the teeth are stabilizing. There will be an addititonal fee for remaking lost or broken retainers.

• Wear full time until orthodontist instructs otherwise.
• Take out for eating main meals, contact sport (a mouthguard is now a good idea) and swimming.
• Always store retainers in the retainer case/box provided, most are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.
• Pets love to chew them so keep them away from pets.
• Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards.
• Always bring your retainers to your appointments
• Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors. Efferdent® or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used but do not take the place of brushing.
• Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. Replacements are expensive but with proper care, they will last for years.. If retainers are lost or broken contact us immediately.
• Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to them faster.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or if your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.

After retainers

Retainers are not usually required after normal stability is achieved. Research shows however, that few people keep ideal tooth alignment for life. This is true whether they were born with perfect teeth or had them orthodontically straightened. We all wrinkle with age.

Please accept that some irregularity of teeth is normal. It is not possible to reliably predict which teeth, or how much your teeth will change over a lifetime. A list of the possible causes of tooth movement throughout life include: tooth wear, unusaul habits, bruxing and grinding of teeth, late facial remodelling including development of charachetr features, and wisdom teeth. A number of these causes can be guarded against, others cannot.

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