Retainers
Congratulations on getting your braces off! You have worked hard to earn that great new smile - so here's all the info that you need to keep that smile looking good. In addition to brushing and flossing daily, the best protection for your perfect smile is to wear your new retainers.In the first few weeks after your braces are removed, your teeth are adjusting to their new positions and can sometimes shift. Wearing your retainers especially during these critical first weeks can keep that smile perfect. Dr. Yorek has found to ensure greatest stability of your new smile indefinite retainer wear is recommended.
The most popular removable retainer is the Hawley retainer. It consists of wires that surround your teeth and an acrylic plate either against your palate (upper Hawley retainer) or under your tongue (lower Hawley retainer). The acrylic is available in a rainbow of colors and it can be fun to customize the look of your new Hawley retainer.
Invisible retainers are the most cosmetic removable retainer available. When compared to the typical colored acrylic retainers with wires, the invisible retainers allow you to speak more clearly and are easier to wear. They are fabricated from a high-tech plastic that is nearly invisible on the teeth.
"When to Wear" Your Hawley retainer is to be worn every night and at least one half of every day - either morning or afternoon. If you are given a different wearing schedule by Dr. Yorek please follow that schedule. Invisible retainers are typically worn full time for 3 days. Followed by night-time only wear thereafter.
"How to Clean" Brush your retainer whenever you brush your teeth. Brush all surfaces with toothpaste and your toothbrush and rinse with warm water. Giving it a quick bubble bath in a denture cleaner once a week is also a good idea. A clean retainer will taste and feel better - which will encourage you to wear it.
"Trouble Shooting Tips" Your retainer should feel snug, but not overly tight. If it becomes to loose, call for an appointment to have Dr. Yorek adjust it for you. If you skip a day or two of wear, your retainer may feel too tight. In this case, wear it full-time for two or three days and it will feel comfortable again. Practice reading aloud in your new retainer - this will help you to speak clearly again.
"Retainer No No's" Never wrap your retainer in a napkin - this is the most common retainer fatality and frequently results in "Dumpster Diving" at fast food restaurants or in school cafeterias. Never place your retainer in your pocket, purse, backpack, glove box, dash board, lunch tray, pet carrier,etc. Do always keep your retainer in your retainer case or your mouth!
Remove and insert your retainer as instructed by Dr. Yorek - do not use your tongue to remove your retainer. Call for an appointment to adjust the fit of your retainer immediately upon noticing a problem with the fit - do not wait until it will not fit at all!
"A Last Word" Your retainer was custom made just for your teeth and will be expensive to replace. You probably have other things to spend your money (or allowance) on, so treat you retainer with TLC.
Fixed retainers are bonded behind your teeth. They are small wires that are used most frequently to hold the position of the front teeth. Sometimes they may be attached to your upper front teeth. Fixed retainers are always placed on the tongue side of the tooth so that they are not visible. In cases of severe crowding, several rotated teeth, or persistent spacing, your fixed retainer may be left in place for many years..jpg)
Care and Handling: It is important that you avoid chewing sticky or hard foods so that your fixed retainer will not be damaged or loosened.Expansion appliances can be viewed at