“Do I REALLY have to wear my retainers for life?”

 “Do I REALLY have to wear my retainers for life?”  

By Amy--Treatment Coordinator

 

As a treatment coordinator at Barnett Orthodontics in Akron, Ohio, I am asked this question many times a day, and not just by preteens/teens. Each time the answer is “YES!” There is no shortcut to keeping your smile perfect after you’ve spent (on average) 18-24 months in braces or aligners. Dr. Barnett does use built-in retainers on the bottom (and sometimes on the top) but those are only holding the 6 (and/or 4 on top) teeth in a perfect position. The retainer I am talking about is a clear removable retainer to wear at nighttime. That one will keep ALL your teeth in perfect alignment.

So, you DO have to wear your clear removable retainers forever, and here’s why:

Right after treatment, your teeth are not permanently fixed in their new positions. The bone and tissue around your teeth take time to stabilize. Even after time has passed, without retainers, your teeth will gradually shift back to their original position.

If you’ve had braces or Invisalign for months or years, the pressure on your teeth will still be at play after treatment. Retainers keep your teeth aligned like the day you finished treatment.

    

Orthodontic treatment is expensive (average $6000-$8000 in Barberton, OH)- period. Wear your retainer so you don’t undo the work you’ve put into straightening your teeth, saving you from having to repeat treatment and incur additional fees.

    

Over time, slight movement of your teeth can impact not only the look of your smile but the bite too, and overall health of your teeth. Wearing a retainer helps maintain your beautiful, functional smile and ensures the health of your gums and teeth.

Misalignment or “crooked teeth” can often cause issues like trouble keeping your teeth clean, bite problems, or jaw pain. Retainers help keep this from happening as your teeth stay exactly where they were the day your braces (or aligners) came off.

I know it isn’t what you want to hear but if you don’t want to do the whole braces/aligners process again, it’s simple, just put in your retainers. Make it part of your nightly routine and you won’t be visiting Barnett Orthodontics again- except for retainer checks. 😉

By the way, if you're a past patient at our office, we replace worn-out retainers at NO CHARGE!

Give us a call today to be seen at our Akron/Barberton location 330-745-4497. 

Lost your retainer? Our in-house lab can make you a new one in 1-hour!

It happens to a lot of people, the dreaded lost retainer.  Don't fret, it's easy to get a new one and usually we can make it within a single hour. 

The current orthodontic research shows that your teeth have the potential to move for the rest of your life.  In other words, you have to wear a retainer, just at night, forever.  Over the years we have retreated many patients who thought it was okay to stop wearing their retainer as a teen.  
Teeth are not static.  They have a memory and want to move back to their original position throughout your lifetime.  When your braces are removed or your Invisalign treatment finishes, you will be instructed on how to wear and care for your new retainers.  At Akron's Barnett Orthodontics, we instruct our patients to wear their top retainer for 3-full days and then nights only.  Your retainer will be form-fitted over your teeth and will hold them in their position.  The bottom retainer is usually glued in (built-in).  It can remain there for the rest of your life.

It is also important, if your retainer breaks, you lose it, or have dental work done that you see your orthodontist as soon as possible for a new one to prevent your teeth from shifting.  Good news again, we can make it quickly and economically.  Currently in 2017, our retainer replacement cost is only $75 for any past patient.  You've spent a lot on your orthodontic treatment, a replacement retainer shouldn't be expensive. 

Call us today (330-745-4497) if you need a new retainer.  Click on this link to go directly to our website to learn more about retainers at our office.