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Taking the Next Step
Finally, your braces have been removed and your smile is beautiful, straight, and best of all, metal-free! However, your orthodontic journey isn’t quite completed. To keep your smile looking its best, you’ll have to wear a retainer to preserve and stabilize your results.
Retainers are needed to control or limit potential changes in tooth position. They are used after braces treatment to hold teeth in their correct alignment while the surrounding gums, bone, and muscle adjust to the new positioning of your teeth.
Types of Retainers
Retainers are custom-made and can be removable or fixed.
- Traditional removable retainers typically include a metal wire that surrounds the front teeth and is attached to an acrylic arch that sits in the roof of the mouth. The metal wires can be adjusted to finish treatment and continue minor movement of the front teeth as needed.
- Aligner-style retainers, or Essix retainers, look similar to clear aligners and offer a more aesthetic alternative to wire retainers. This clear retainer may fit over the entire arch of your teeth, or only from canine to canine (clip-on retainer). It is produced from a mold of your newly aligned teeth.
- Fixed retainers consist of wires bonded behind the bottom and/or top teeth. While the device is usually required no more than a year after wisdom teeth have been extracted, it is often kept in place for life.
Pros and Cons
- Removable retainers can be taken out for eating and hygiene routines.
- Removable retainers can get lost easily, so remember to keep yours in the case whenever you remove it to eat or brush.
- A fixed retainer is great if you don’t want to keep track of it, or if you don’t want to worry about how many hours per day it must be worn.
- Teeth with fixed retainers require a little extra attention to remove tartar while flossing. Patients with fixed retainers often must use floss threaders to pass dental floss through the small spaces between the retainer and the teeth.
Your First Visit: What To Expect
STEP 1
Every smile starts with an initial consultation!
We understand that choosing to receive orthodontic care is a big decision and your first visit to our office is the first step. At your initial consultation, we take complimentary xrays and images of your teeth that lets us see what’s going on and perform a thorough examination of your teeth, mouth, and gums. This information helps us design your customized treatment plan.
STEP 2
Braces or aligners just for you.
When you think about braces, you might think about the old-fashioned ones you saw as a kid that made patients look like they had a mouth full of metal. Thanks to some of the newest designs and options, you no longer need to worry about how people look at you or how they perceive you. At Braces520, we want to help you get the smile that you love with treatment as convenient as possible.
STEP 3
Your new smile.
At Braces520, we make you our top priority! We create beautiful, confident smiles for all ages by offering advanced orthodontic care that’s designed to deliver the ideal treatment experience and results to ensure you achieve your best smile!
FAQs from Dr. Rosen
Can I still play sports
Of course! We do recommend that you use a mouthguard to protect your mouth during treatment.
Can I return to school the day I receive my braces?
Absolutely. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to return to your normal daily life.
Will my teeth straighten as they grow?
Unfortunately, no. Orthodontic issues, such as spacing and malocclusions, tend to worsen with age. It’s important to be examined as early as possible, to ensure these problems are corrected sooner rather than later.
Can I schedule all of my appointments after school?
We do our best to schedule you for the most convenient times based on your busy schedule, but cannot make any guarantees. However, most appointments are scheduled 4-10 weeks apart, so you or your child will miss minimal work/school time.
What are you waiting for?
Feel Confident in Your New Smile!
Today is the perfect day to start your journey to a beautifully healthy and radiant smile! We’d love to walk you through what we offer to get you to that confident and beautiful smile you desire.
