Orthodontic Retention

After your teeth have been straightened with ClearCorrect or traditional braces, we begin a retention phase to help ensure your teeth stay in place and don’t shift back. We do this by creating a custom retainer to perfectly fit your teeth. To get a perfect fit we’ll first take an impression of your teeth and then these will be sent to a lab where your custom retainer is created just for you.

Everyone’s treatment is different, but regardless of the length of time it took to straighten your teeth, it’s important to follow our guidelines for wearing your retainer. We don’t want your teeth to relapse after all of your hard work to achieve the perfect smile.

We’ll check to be sure your retainer is working properly and fitting correctly at each follow up visit so it’s important to wear it or bring it with you. If your retainer ever breaks be sure to call us immediately so we can make a replacement.

Cleaning Your Retainer

You can brush your retainer each time you brush your teeth. Toothpaste can dull the finish of your retainer so we recommend using some warm water and a mild soap. You can also let it soak for a few hours in white vinegar to achieve a nice clean shine.

Caring for Your Retainer

Your retainer is sturdy but it’s designed for your mouth only. Dogs love to chew retainers so don’t leave it anywhere the family pet could find it. It’s also a good idea to keep it in its case when you’re not wearing it as hot air or hot water can distort it. Lastly, be careful when taking it out to eat in public places – we’ve heard too many stories of retainers being thrown away accidentally.