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Marietta Orthodontic Retainer Care Instructions

Orthodontic Retainers in Atlanta and Marietta, GAAfter your braces come off, you will still have to wear a retainer to ensure that your teeth remain in place.

A retainer is a device worn around the teeth once braces are removed. Retainers allow the bones to tighten around your newly straightened teeth to assure that they stay in alignment. Your retainer is custom made to fit only your teeth, and it plays an essential role in the final stages of your orthodontic treatment.

How Long Will I Have to Wear My Retainers?

The amount of time that you will wear your retainers will depend on many variables. Typically, patients wear their retainers for a couple of years to ensure that the bone structure and the gums tighten around your realigned teeth. Throughout the retention process, you will meet with Dr. Wright to evaluate the fit of your retainer so that slight adjustments can be made if necessary.

You will wear your retainers 24 hours a day; however, they will be removed when eating, for cleaning, and when participating in contact sports.

How to Care for Your Retainers

Brushing your retainer is just as important as brushing your teeth on a daily basis. Cleaning your retainer allows you to remove food debris. To keep your retainers clean, brush them with a toothbrush and toothpaste every time you brush your teeth. If they are not kept clean, the retainers will get a plaque build-up and an odor. You should also rinse your retainer after every meal.

In addition to keeping your retainers clean, there are other important steps you should follow to safeguard your retainers. If you have pets, it is important to keep your retainer away from them. Pets look at retainers as chew toys.

You will be given a protective case for your retainer. Always keep your retainer in its protective case when it is not in your mouth. When you take your retainers out to eat, never wrap retainers in a napkin. You may forget about them and mistake them for trash that gets thrown away. Also, never put your retainer directly into your pocket, purse or backpack without the protective case. Your retainer might become bent or crushed, and it is costly to replace.

Keep your retainer away from heat to keep it from changing shape. Your retainer will melt or warp if it gets hot. Never leave your retainer in a hot car, or by a stove or heater. Never put your retainer in a washing machine or in hot or boiling water.

To learn more about retainers, contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation. Wright Orthodontics has two convenient locations to serve you in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia. As always, your initial consultation at Wright Orthodontics is offered free of charge with no hidden fees.

4 Ways to Remember to Wear Your Retainer

One of the most important parts of orthodontics is wearing the retainer once your actual treatment plan is complete. We understand you may not want to wear it or simply forget to put it in your mouth, but if you don’t wear it as we recommend, your gorgeously straight teeth are going to shift. Then guess what? The braces may have to be reapplied to your teeth again.

At first, you typically wear the retainer all the time except when eating and brushing your teeth. Over the course of time, you eventually will only need to wear it at night. This is typically where it gets tricky to remember to put wear it. To help you, here are five ways to remember to wear your retainer:

#1: Ask friends and family to remind you.

Orthodontic Retainers in Atlanta and Marietta, GA

Probably the easiest way to make sure you wear your retainer is to ask friends at school and family at home to remind you. At school, pick a good friend who eats lunch with you to remind you to wear it if he or she notices you don’t have it in your mouth. That’s a good friend!

#2: Place a note on your mirrors.

If you have a note on the mirrors you use the most – bathroom and bedroom – you are much more likely to remember to put your retainer back in your mouth.

#3: Set a reminder or alarm on your cellular phone.

Setting a reminder on your cell phone is a great way to remember your retainer. The best time to set the reminder is about 30 minutes before you typically go to bed. If you forget or go to bed early, your alarm will still go off.

#4: Keep your retainer case in plain view.

You can also place your retainer case where you see it as a reminder. We recommend keeping it on your bathroom counter. Note that it is easy to accidentally throw your retainer away with lunch at school. Keeping the case where you can see it also helps you avoid tossing it in the trash. Don’t forget, never wrap your retaining up in a napkin or paper towel, and always use the case.

You don’t have to wear your retainer forever. The purpose is to give your teeth time to adjust to their new positions and allow the bones to stabilize around the teeth. If you forget to wear your retainer occasionally, don’t worry too much. It won’t compromise our work; however, not wearing it for an extended period of time may create issues. So, make sure you are diligent about wearing it.

We worked hard to give you a beautiful and confident smile. It’s up to you to keep it that way!

Why should I wear a retainer after braces?

After spending months taking care of braces, the idea of wearing retainers can be exhausting or even overwhelming. However, not keeping up with after-braces-care can reverse the entire process.

The use of retainers is vital to keeping your teeth in their new position. Without the use of retainers, your teeth can move back to how they were before braces. Studies have shown that the first six months after taking braces off is the most vital to maintaining the new location of your teeth. This is why most often patients are asked to wear their retainers day and night for six months after first having their braces removed. Usually, if the patient’s teeth remain in their new position, they’ll eventually be able to wear the retainers during sleep only.

There are also other types of retainers, fixed or bonded retainers. These consist of wire that stretches across the back of a patient’s upper and lower front teeth with the help of dental cement. These are harder to clean and take more effort to maintain, but also usually lead to the best outcome because they are constantly in place and cannot be moved.

How long a patient needs to wear retainers varies based on the individual. To learn more about braces and other orthodontic options, please contact Dr. Marc S. Wright at 404-507-2078. The initial consultation is free and staff will work with you to find a treatment plan that both meets your needs and your budget.

Orthodontic Retainers in Atlanta and Marietta, GA
Removable Essix Retainer
Orthodontic Retainers in Atlanta and Marietta, GA
Removable Hawley Retainer
Orthodontic Retainers in Atlanta and Marietta, GA
Fixed/Bonded Retainer

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Atlanta

3019-B North Druid Hills Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30329

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Marietta

990-B Whitlock Avenue NW Marietta, GA 30064

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SAO in Atlanta and Marietta, GA

Office Hours

Atlanta
  • Monday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
MARIETTA
  • Monday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
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