Congratulations on your new smile! Now that your braces are off, you need to keep them from moving. This process involves the wearing of retainers. In most cases, Dr. Bentz will bond (glue) a lingual wire behind the upper front four teeth and the lower front six teeth.
You will also receive a clear removable retainer for the upper teeth. When you first receive your retainer, you will need to wear it 24 hours a day for 2 weeks, only taking it out to eat and brush your teeth. After those 2 weeks, you will wear it only at night while you sleep, indefinitely!
Care of your Retainers is very vital to ensure long lasting retainers. Make sure you brush and floss around your bonded retainers. The adhesive (glue) on your bonded wire can come loose, especially if you bite directly into hard foods. It does need to be fixed in a timely manner to ensure your teeth not move.
When brushing your removable retainer you are to only use cold water and hand soap. Do not use toothpaste as it is abrasive and will scratch and make the retainer cloudy. You can also use a denture cleaning tablet and soak it in luke warm water. Always keep your retainer in the case when you are not wearing it, pets, especially dogs, will eat it. Please be very careful with the care of your retainers, as they are an important aspect to orthodontic treatment.
Like other personal items, retainers may also wear over time. Replacing a worn retainer is a wise investment in caring for your smile!