We have to work together to stabilize the results of treatment. The tongue, lips and supporting structures must adapt to the new position of your teeth. You will need to wear retainers to protect your investment. Retainers prevent the teeth from moving back to their original position. About 90% of your correction can be retained. The teeth will not stay exactly where we have placed them. They will make adaptive changes to function in the most efficient manner. This readjustment is not a failure of correction, but rather a natural change that we have learned to accept.
We will supervise the first 12 months of your retention. After that period you will be placed on ‘On Demand Retention’. The fee for this service, as previously quoted, is $55.00 per visit. Working together, we can get the maximum lifetime benefits from your investment of time, money and effort.
HERE’S WHAT WE’LL DO:
- Provide you with one set of retainers for each arch. If lost or broken, it is imperative that you have an immediate replacement. Otherwise, your teeth will shift. There will be an additional charge for any broken or lost retainers.
- Carefully supervise the wear and care of your retainers and help you with any problems.
- Schedule necessary appointments.
- Monitor the development of wisdom teeth, and keep you and your dentist advised.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
- Return to your family dentist for an examination and cleaning. Brush and floss thoroughly every day to protect that beautiful smile.
- Wear retainers as instructed. 22-24 hours per day for the first 3 months, then as instructed.
- Keep your appointments. If you miss more than one appointment, we can’t control your retention and we’ll have to charge for any subsequent visits.
- Take care of your retainers. Clean them daily. Don’t wrap them in a napkin, as they may be thrown away. Keep them away from dogs and other pets who love to chew on them. If you’re not wearing or cleaning them, keep them in the protective retainer case.
- If you lose or break a retainer, please call us immediately. The teeth will move if retainers are not worn.