Once you’ve completed orthodontic treatment, your Whittier orthodontist will create a customized orthodontic retainer for you. A retainer ensures that your teeth stay in their proper position once your braces come off and are the best way to ensure your teeth don’t shift back to their original positions.
Our patients come to us with a lot of questions about orthodontic treatment in Whittier. Some of their questions pertain to retainers, like why they need one and how to care for one. Following are some of the questions we’re asked most often about retainers in Whittier.
After orthodontic treatment, your jaw bone needs time to strengthen in order to keep your teeth in their new position. A retainer keeps your teeth in their proper position while giving your bone time to strengthen. If you don’t wear a retainer, it won’t be long before the teeth start to shift back to their old positions.
There are three types of retainers:
For the first three to 12 months, you’ll need to wear your retainer 24/7 (except when eating or practicing oral hygiene). After that, you’ll wear your retainer only at night. In many cases, patients wear their retainers at night for the rest of their life. It’s an investment in their smile, so they’re willing to do it.
You might find the retainer slightly annoying for the first week or so. It will take some getting used to, and you might notice an increase in salivary flow. Some patients also find it a bit harder to talk at first. After a few days – and with some practice – you’ll talk like normal and barely notice your retainer.
If you lose your retainer, we’ll make you a new one. If you lose your retainer, it is important to let us know as soon as possible so your teeth don’t begin to shift.
Follow your Whittier orthodontist’s cleaning instructions for your retainer, which will likely consist of:
The cost of your retainer depends on the type of retainer you have. The range is between $150 and $500. Typically, the cost of the retainer is included in your overall orthodontic treatment cost, of which some insurance companies pay up to 50% (to your annual maximum). Replacement retainers are likely an out-of-pocket cost.
You’ve invested a lot of time and money in orthodontic treatment. There’s nothing worse than noticing a few years later that your teeth have shifted and you’re facing some of the same issues you did before orthodontic treatment, including:
If this happens, you’ll likely need orthodontic treatment again. But your Whittier orthodontist can help you avoid that by providing you with a custom retainer. Committing to wearing your retainer will ensure you keep your healthy, beautiful smile for years to come.
Do You Have Questions About Orthodontic Treatment In Whittier?
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