After braces and aligners

Retainers that keep your smile straight

Your braces are off or your last aligner is done. Congratulations! Now for the least glamorous and most important part of orthodontics: the retainer.

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Teeth have a memory. After treatment, they like to drift back toward where they started, and a retainer is what stops them. Wear it the way Dr. Salins tells you and your new smile stays put.

Prefer to talk? Call Union City (510) 475-4153 or South SF (650) 952-1010.

Why do I need a retainer?

The bone and gums around your teeth need time to settle into their new positions. Your teeth can also keep shifting slowly over the years, as everyone’s do. A retainer holds everything in place while that happens. Skip it and your teeth can start creeping back, sometimes faster than you’d think.

Retainer types

What kinds of retainers are there?

Dr. Salins uses three types of retainers and will recommend the one that fits your case. Sometimes it’s a combination, like a fixed retainer on the bottom and a removable one on top.

Clear removable retainers

A thin, clear tray that fits over your teeth, a lot like an aligner. They’re hard to see, comfortable and easy to wear.

Hawley retainers

The classic retainer: a small acrylic piece that sits against the roof of your mouth, with a wire across the front teeth. It’s sturdy and adjustable.

Fixed (bonded) retainers

A thin wire glued to the back of your front teeth, usually the lower ones. You can’t lose it or forget it, and nobody can see it. You’ll need to clean carefully around it, and a floss threader helps.

How long do I have to wear my retainer?

Plan on at least two years of retainer wear after your braces or aligners come off. Dr. Salins will give you a schedule. It’s usually more at first, then less over time. Most orthodontists recommend some nighttime retainer wear for the long haul, because teeth keep shifting throughout life.

Retainer care

How do I take care of my retainer?

Keep it in its case whenever it’s not in your mouth. Lunch napkins and retainers don’t mix.
Rinse it and brush it gently with cool or lukewarm water. Hot water can warp plastic.
Keep it away from dogs. Dogs love retainers. We don’t know why.
Don’t leave it in a hot car.
Bring it to your appointments.

What if my retainer breaks, cracks or doesn’t fit?

Call us. Don’t try to bend it back yourself, and don’t force a retainer that’s stopped fitting. If a bonded retainer comes loose, call too, even if it doesn’t hurt. The sooner we see it, the less your teeth can shift. What to do in an orthodontic emergency

Can I get a replacement retainer?

Call either office and we’ll get you sorted.

No lectures

My teeth shifted because I stopped wearing my retainer. Can you help?

It happens to a lot of people, and you’re not in trouble. Sometimes a new retainer is enough. Sometimes a short round of clear aligners or braces is needed to get things back. Come in for a free consult and Dr. Salins will tell you what it would take.

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