removable retainers

Removable retainers are carefully designed to move or hold your teeth. It is important that they are worn according to instructions and brought to each appointment.

Wear your retainer while you are asleep, unless instructed otherwise. If instructed to wear your retainer full time, It may be removed while eating, swimming, or playing vigorous sports activities. Your speech will be “off” at first, but In two or three days your speech will return to normal with the retainer in place. Avoid flipping your retainer with your tongue. This can cause damage to your teeth or breakage of your appliance.

If you have an active retainer, it may make your teeth sore for a day or two, especially after an adjustment. If you have a sore spot on your gums call our office at Stow Orthodontics Phone Number 978-637-2952 so that we can adjust the retainer.

Clean your retainer by brushing it daily under cool to luke-warm water.  Denture cleaner can also be used for a more thorough cleaning. If you are wearing a bonded wire retainer behind your front teeth, be extra careful to clean the wire and the area around it. Flossing should be done every day.

Never wrap your retainer in a paper napkin or tissue and set it down on the table. You or someone else may throw it away. Don’t put it in your pocket or you may break or lose it. Whenever it is not in your mouth it should be in its plastic retainer case.

Keep your retainer away from dogs or cats as they love to chew on them. Avoid storing them near any source of heat. Do not boil your retainer to sterilize it! If needed, bring it to the office and we will be happy to disinfect it for you.

An additional charge will be incurred for lost or broken retainers.