Retainers

What is a retainer?

A retainer is a plastic device that fits snugly around your teeth and holds them in position after treatments like Invisalign®, metal braces, or ceramic braces have caused the teeth to shift into a new space. Without retainers, your teeth could slowly move back into their prior position, causing gaps in teeth, misalignments, and other dental issues to reoccur. In many cases, the orthodontists at Concerned Dental will only ask you to wear your retainers at night or for a short length of time during the day in order to keep them from shifting. Our orthodontists always take the time to create custom-fitting retainers for each of our patients so that you’ll have a unique, comfortable, and pain-free retainer that fits your teeth perfectly.

When is a retainer from a dentist needed?

We might offer a retainer for you if you have any of the below dental issues that a retainer could help resolve:

• Gaps between teeth
• Overlapping teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Teeth grinding (TMJ/TMD)

Additionally, retainers may be used after the following treatments to ensure that your teeth do not shift back to their previous position:

• Metal braces
• Ceramic braces
• Invisalign®
• Palate expanders

What does getting a dental retainer involve?

Getting a retainer is simple at Concerned Dental. During a short office visit, you’ll be fitted for your custom retainer and fit the device to your teeth. We always ensure that patients feel completely comfortable in the retainer before leaving. If your retainer doesn’t fit perfectly, be sure to let us know and we will adjust it as needed to make sure you are totally comfortable. Below are some helpful retainer tips from our orthodontists at Concerned Dental:

• Wear your retainer for the full amount of time that your orthodontist recommends
• Be careful with the retainer; when you’re not wearing it, put it in its case.
• Take your retainer out when eating and drinking things besides water
• Be gentle with your retainer; they break easily.
• Bring your retainer back with you to your orthodontist visits so we can make sure they still fit properly and make any needed adjustments or replacements.

What are the benefits of visiting a dentist for a retainer?

You can expect the following benefits of using a retainer made by our experts at Concerned Dental:

• Ensures that your teeth remain in the correct position over time
• Less bulky than other treatments
• Easy to wear and remove
• Personalized to fit your exact bite and teeth
• Reduces the chances you’ll need braces for a second time in the future