Orthodontic Retainers in Redwood City, CA
You Waited Long for a Beautifully Straight Teeth — Keep It That Way
You’ve been diligently looking after your braces for so long and your patience has paid off. The braces have been removed and you have a beautifully straight and metal-free smile. Keep it that way with the help of orthodontic retainers that stabilize and preserve the results of your initial orthodontic treatment.
What Are Retainers for and How Long Must You Wear Them?
You just spent 12 to 24 months wearing Invisalign® or braces that gradually moved your teeth to a straighter, healthier position. Their new look should be permanent, but you need to be careful about your teeth moving back to their original positions. Dental retainers hold your teeth in the correct alignment despite your teeth wanting to naturally shift back to their original positions.
The orthodontist might recommend the use of a removable retainer all day, seven days a week for an entire year after you get the braces removed. Alternatively, you might need to use them only at night but indefinitely. The instructions vary so we suggest talking to Dr. Yang about the best way to retain the effects of your Invisalign® or braces treatment.
We might also schedule multiple checkups in the year after your braces are removed. Our orthodontist will make sure your teeth are in their proper placement and that the retainers are doing their job of keeping the teeth from moving.
Which Type of Retainers Are Most Suitable for You?
At Yang Orthodontics, we find all ways to make your orthodontic treatment as comfortable as possible. It doesn’t stop when we remove the braces. We feature different types of retainers that keep your straight teeth in place:
Clear Plastic Retainers
Essix retainers are aligner-style retainers made from clear materials. They are an esthetic alternative to wire retainers. We use the mold of your newly aligned teeth to shape them.
Removable Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers are removable retainers ideal for finishing treatment and encouraging minor movement of the front teeth. These retainers have a thin metal wire that surrounds the front teeth.
Lingual Wire, Fixed, or Bonded Retainers
Fixed retainers have wires that are attached behind the teeth. These retainers are recommended to remain in place for life.
How Do You Look After Your Retainers?
When you have removable retainers, we recommend wearing them full time unless you are eating, drinking, or playing contact sports. After an initial settling period, our orthodontist will advise that you only use the retainers while you sleep at night. Regardless of when you need to use them, these are the ways to look after them:
- Take them out for eating and hygiene routines.
- Keep them in a hard case when you remove them to eat or brush your teeth.
- In the case of fixed retainers, use floss threaders to remove plaque in the small spaces between the retainers and your teeth.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Yang to learn more about orthodontic retainers and the next step of your journey to permanently straight teeth.
Retainers For Life
Our retainer program covers the replacement of your retainers at Yang Orthodontics for up to 10 years for a co-pay of $35.00 per retainer.
