Orthodontic Retainers in Indianapolis and Greenfield, IN
Retainers are one of the most important parts of your orthodontic journey, though they often don’t get the attention they deserve. After your braces come off or your Invisalign treatment wraps up, your teeth are technically in their new positions, but the bone and tissue around them haven’t fully adjusted yet. Without consistent retainer wear, teeth can drift back toward their original spots in a matter of months. That’s why at Werner Orthodontics, retainers aren’t treated as an afterthought, but as the final and ongoing phase of treatment.
Types of Retainers
Permanent Retainers (Bonded Retainers)
A thin wire bonded to the back of the lower front teeth, occasionally the upper. It stays put, which means it works whether or not you remember it, and it is the most reliable option for the lower front teeth, which are the ones most likely to shift. It requires more careful flossing, and we will show you how. Most permanent retainers stay in for years.
Clear Retainers (Essix Retainers)
A clear, removable tray molded to your finished tooth positions, similar in appearance to an Invisalign aligner. Nearly invisible and comfortable, which means people actually wear them. They wear down over time and are replaced periodically, and they are not meant to be worn while eating or drinking anything but water.
Hawley Retainers
The traditional removable retainer, an acrylic plate with a visible wire across the front teeth. It is the most durable of the three, adjustable if small corrections are needed, and it lasts longer than a clear retainer. It is more noticeable, which is the tradeoff.
Which one you get depends on your case, how your teeth finished, and how likely they are to move. Dr. Werner or Dr. Myers will recommend a type and explain why.
How Long Do I Have to Wear a Retainer?
Longer than most people expect, and that is the honest answer. Teeth are held in place by bone and soft tissue that need time to reorganize around their new positions, and that process continues well after the braces come off. Most patients wear a removable retainer full time at first, then shift to nights only. Nights only is not a temporary phase for most people. Teeth keep moving slowly for the rest of your life, and a retainer worn a few nights a week is what stops it.
What to Do About a Broken or Lost Retainer
Call us. A retainer that is cracked, warped, or missing stops working immediately, and teeth can start drifting within days. Do not try to wear a damaged retainer or force one back in if it no longer fits, because a retainer that does not seat correctly can move teeth in the wrong direction. We will get you in and get a replacement made.
If it has been months since you lost it and your teeth have already shifted, tell us that too. Sometimes a new retainer solves it. Sometimes it takes a short course of aligners first. Either way, it is a smaller problem the sooner you bring it in.
Retainers After Braces or Invisalign
Your first set of retainers is part of your treatment plan at Werner Orthodontics. We fit them at the appointment where your braces come off or your final aligners come out, and we tell you exactly how long to wear them each day.
Ready to take the first step towards the smile of your dreams?
Werner Orthodontics provides affordable, quality care for patients of all ages! With flexible payment plans, we guarantee that you will find an option that will fit your family budget.