When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. The retention phase lasts for one to two years. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so follow through with the hard work you've put in so far. Remember to remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer before placing it back in your mouth. Also, call the office right away if your retainers are lost or broken.

About Your Retainers

Congratulations, you did it. Now we have to work together to stabilize the results of your treatment. The tongue, lips and supporting structures are adapting to the new positions of your teeth. You need to wear your retainers indefinately to maintain your results. Dr. Paden will oversee your first 1 - 2 years of retention, but we reccommend that you continue to wear the retainers. Retainers prevent the teeth from moving back to their original position.

The teeth will not stay exactly where we have placed them. They will make adaptive changes to function in the most effective manner, this readjustment is not a failure of correction, but a natural change that we have anticipated. Moreover, there is a natural level of shifting that occurs in the mouth as you age, this compounds the need to wear the retainers indefinately.

Here’s what we’ll do:

• We will provide you with retainers for each arch following the removal of the braces. If a retainer is lost or broken, it is important that you have a replacement made, otherwise, your teeth will shift. Please call us for an appointment if this happens.
• We’ll carefully supervise the wear and care of your retainers, for the first 1-2 years and help you with any probems, please bring the retainers to all of your appointments.
• We’ll monitor the development of wisdom teeth, and keep you and your dentist advised.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Brush and floss thoroughly every day to protect that beautiful smile!!
• Wear your retainers as instructed - usually night time only
• Take care of the retainers - clean them daily with toothpaste and a toothbrush. Don’t wrap them in a tissuse, as they may be thrown away. Make sure they are put away, in the case during the day time, as dogs and other pets love to chew on them.
• If you loose or break a retainer, call us immediately! The teeth will move if retainers are not worn. There is a charge to replace retainers, so please be careful.

* Remember while Dr. Paden oversees you for the first 1-2 years of retention, they should be worn far into your future.