RETENTION
Retainer Wear
Once Dr. Chenin removes your braces we will begin the final phase of your treatment called retention. At Chenin orthodontics we will monitor your teeth until you “graduate” into passive retention. Retainers must be worn FULL TIME FOR ~12 months. At this point, you have
graduated to passive retention and then wear them while you are “at home and
sleeping” for about 6 months. After that, you are expected to wear your
retainers while “sleeping” indefinitely.
Passive retention lasts a lifetime. The reason why we advocate a lifetime of passive retention is because slight changes will take place in your teeth over time, similar to everything else in our body, like our eye sight, smell and hearing. The only way to prevent your teeth from shifting is to wear your retainers. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainer wear, so follow through with the hard work you’ve put in so far.
Retainer Care
Remember to remove your retainer before brushing, and brush your retainer before placing it back in your mouth. We recommend using soft soap to brush your retainer as it is less abrasive than toothpaste and will keep the retainer shiny, smooth and clean. If you need additional disinfection, then you can purchase cleaning tablets from your local pharmacy in the tooth care section.
Also, clear “Invisalign-like” retainers may be appropriate for some patients.
