What are retainers?
An orthodontic retainer is an oral appliance that fits over your teeth. You wear it after completing orthodontic treatment to prevent your teeth from returning to their original positions.
Retainers are made of plastic and metal. Dr. Yusupov takes scans of your mouth with an iTero® intraoral scanner while designing the retainer to ensure a perfect fit.
What do retainers do?
After you finish wearing braces or invisible aligners, your teeth aren’t cemented in their new position. That doesn’t happen for several months or years after your bones, gums, and muscles adjust to the change.
Routine activities like biting and chewing put mild pressure on your teeth and may affect their position. A retainer prevents that from happening, by holding them in place.
What are the types of retainers?
At Amazing Smiles Orthodontics, Dr. Yusupov and the team offer several types of retainers, including:
Removable retainers
Removable retainers are made of metal and plastic. They’re custom-made to fit snugly over the teeth in your upper or lower arch. You wear the retainer throughout the day, only removing it to eat or brush and floss.
Fixed retainers
A fixed or “permanent” retainer is a piece of braided wire that Dr. Yusupov bonds to the back of your teeth. Once placed, you can’t remove a fixed retainer on your own. It stays in position for the rest of your life.
What does getting a retainer involve?
At Amazing Smiles Orthodontics, the process for getting a retainer depends on the type you’re getting.
Removable retainer process
If you’re getting a removable retainer, Dr. Yusupov takes digital impressions of your mouth with an intraoral scanner and sends them to a dental lab. The lab uses your scans to create a custom retainer that fits perfectly.
Fixed retainer process
If you’re getting a fixed retainer, Dr. Yusupov carefully bonds a braided wire to the back of your teeth. You leave the office with the retainer in place and visit Amazing Smiles Orthodontics for regular checkups.
What if I don’t wear my retainer?
If you don’t wear your retainer as prescribed, your teeth will slowly return to their original positions. That can result in crooked teeth, spaces between your teeth, or crowding. Follow Dr. Yusupov’s instructions and attend each follow-up checkup as scheduled.
Call the nearest Amazing Smiles Orthodontics office to learn more about retainers today, or book online.