Keeping your smile straight doesn’t end when your braces or clear aligner treatment are finished. Retainers are essential for maintaining your results long term and preventing unwanted shifting. After orthodontic treatment, the bone and soft tissues around your teeth need time to stabilize, and retention helps protect the time and investment you’ve made in your smile. At Advanced Orthodontics, our goal is to help your smile stay beautiful and healthy for a lifetime, and your cooperation is a key part of long-term success.
Why Are Retainers So Important?
Once active orthodontic appliances are removed, the teeth are not “locked” into place yet. For several months, the surrounding bone and soft tissues are still stabilizing, which means your teeth can shift easily without proper retention.
Wearing retainers as instructed helps:
- Stabilize your orthodontic correction
- Prevent undesirable tooth movement (relapse)
- Reduce the chance of needing re-treatment
Because teeth can continue to move throughout life, we recommend long-term retainer wear to protect your results as your bite changes over time due to muscles, clenching, and natural aging.
What Types of Retainers Are Available?
Removable Retainers
After your braces or active appliances are removed, you will receive removable retainers to stabilize your correction. These retainers must be worn as instructed—especially during the months immediately after treatment.
Because teeth can move throughout life, we recommend patients wear retainers indefinitely:
- Full-time wear as prescribed by our orthodontists
- Once stabilized, night-time wear indefinitely to maintain alignment
Failure to wear removable retainers can lead to shifting that may require additional orthodontic treatment.
Fixed Retainers (Bonded Wire)
A fixed retainer is a bonded wire designed to stay in place indefinitely. This wire helps protect against shifting as you get older and as your bite changes over time.
The only exception for keeping the bonded wire long term is if your family dentist determines that it is not being kept clean and is beginning to cause gum or bone problems. If this occurs:
- The wire should be removed by your dental professional
- A removable retainer should replace it
- The removable retainer should be worn as prescribed
Your family dentist should monitor the bonded wire at your regular six-month checkups.
How Often Should Retainers Be Worn?
Retention is a lifelong responsibility because teeth can move throughout life.
A typical wear schedule includes:
- Full-time wear as prescribed by your orthodontist after treatment ends
- After stabilization, night-time wear indefinitely
This long-term schedule helps protect your smile against age-related shifting and changes caused by muscle patterns and clenching.
How Do I Care for My Retainers?
Retainers are made of thermoplastic material and can be damaged by heat. Proper care helps keep them clean, comfortable, and effective.
Important care tips:
- Avoid heat exposure: Keep retainers away from heaters, dishwashers, car dashboards, or any environment above 115°F
- Store properly: Keep retainers in their case when not in your mouth
- Protect from pets: Pets often chew retainers, so store them safely
- Clean before and after wearing: Retainers should be cleaned before and after placement
How to clean retainers:
- Gently scrub with a toothbrush and mild liquid soap
- Because retainers are slightly porous, plaque can cling to the surface
- A 50% vinegar and 50% water soak may help loosen tightly bound plaque residue
- Rinse thoroughly after cleaning to remove any residue
Because retainers are worn for years, they will need periodic replacement. Your original treatment contract includes one or two sets of retainers after braces are removed. If retainers are lost or damaged due to neglect, there will be a charge for replacement. If retainers become loose or break, contact our office immediately.
Who Needs Stronger Retention?
Certain habits and conditions increase the risk of shifting and may require stronger or more consistent retention, including:
- Mouth breathing
- Clenching and/or grinding of teeth (muscle hyperactivity)
- Tongue thrusting, low tongue posture, or abnormal tongue posture
- Playing a musical instrument with a reed
- Lip sucking
- Pen or pencil biting
- Spacing between the teeth prior to treatment
- Severely rotated teeth
Your orthodontist will recommend the most appropriate retention schedule based on your needs.
Do I Still Need Regular Dental Visits?
Yes. Regular dental exams and cleanings are essential for long-term oral health—especially after orthodontic treatment.
Patients should:
- Maintain thorough brushing and flossing at home
- Visit their family dentist at least every six months for cleanings and dental examinations (or more frequently if recommended)
Your family dentist will also monitor fixed retainers during routine checkups.
