When you initially get your retainer, you will need to wear it day and night. The frequency of wear will also require frequent cleaning of the retainer (every time you take it out for a meal), along with the occasional soak in a cleaning solution. Keeping your retainer clean is as imperative as keeping your teeth clean. Dirty retainers can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
Additionally, you’ll have to get used to remembering you have it! You will take it out to eat and remember to not throw it away with your lunch trash! Additionally, if you have pets, they may decide to use it as a chew toy, so make sure you keep it in the container when you aren’t wearing it and keep it out of reach of pets. Finally, be sure to not leave it in a car on a warm day. The inside of the car will be much warmer than the temperature outside, and the heat can warp the plastic molding. Your mouth doesn’t get much warmer than 98 degrees, but your car can reach up to 120 degrees in mere minutes!
To help form the habit of keeping track of your retainer, ask for a retainer case to practice keeping it with you. This way, by the time you get your retainer, you’ll always know where the case is!
Once Dr. Amir is satisfied with your teeth retaining their positions, you will be able to reduce the wear of your retainer from every day and night, to simply night-wear only. This will be easier as you won’t need to clean and soak it as often and will only need to keep it in the same place every morning after you clean it.
The length of time you will need to wear your retainer before reaching stage two will vary from mouth to mouth. Some teeth retain their positions well with disciplined retainer wear, and can rely on nightly wear after only three months! Most mouths, however, need consistent retaining for up to six months. Dr. Amir will be able to establish an expected timeline for your retainer schedule.
Eventually, you will be able to wear your retainer only a few nights per week. However, you will need to do this on a permanent basis to retain your lovely smile! Additionally, if your retainer gets lost or damaged, you will want to schedule an appointment to have it replaced or repaired.
To keep your new smile, it is essential to follow the tips below. If you read nothing else about retainer suggestions, READ AND FOLLOW THESE TIPS:
With our in-house lab, Dr. Amir can fabricate your retainers right here in our office, which will make it easier to keep your beautiful, new smile in optimal condition.
To experience our award-winning orthodontic care, schedule your Complimentary New Patient Consultation today by calling 818-659-6485 to reach our office. You may also use our convenient online form. Your appointment includes the following:
During your appointment, we will take the time to answer all your questions about our advanced treatments and technology, our flexible payment options, and anything else you may want to know about us!
Address:
1111 N Brand Blvd
#201
Glendale, CA 91202
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Tuesday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Friday: 7:30am – 4:30pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 1:30pm
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