Retention
Finishing treatment is half of it. Keeping it is the rest.
Teeth drift for life. A retainer — and a few follow-up checks — is what holds the result you worked for.
Options
Options to hold your smile in place.
Everyone's bite is different
The doctor will recommend a retention option that is best for each patient.
Hawley retainer
A removable retainer made from acrylic and a shaped wire, built from impressions of your own teeth so it seats snugly. The acrylic can be personalized with colors and patterns.
Fixed (bonded) retainer
A thin wire bonded behind the front teeth so it holds alignment full-time with nothing to remember. Brush the wire and the inside surfaces carefully — and call us rather than adjusting it yourself if it ever loosens.
Clear retainer
A clear removable tray that covers the whole arch. No visible wires, durable, and easy to wear day to day.
Care
Simple habits that make retainers last.
- Clean removable retainers daily with a brush and cool water — never hot water, which warps the fit.
- Store it in its case, not a napkin. Lost retainers are almost always thrown away retainers.
- With a bonded retainer, brush the wire and the inside of your teeth carefully at every brushing.
- If a retainer cracks, loosens, or stops fitting, call us — don't bend or adjust it yourself.