Retainer Installation

How are retainers installed?

Dr. Jahn’Shahi fits his patients for retainers as soon as their braces are removed and the teeth are corrected. He will take impressions of the patient’s teeth and mouth, then send the mold to a laboratory for the retainer to be tailor-made to fit the patient’s mouth exactly. The patient will return to the office, and Dr. Jahn’Shahi will check to make sure the retainer fits the patient’s mouth. The doctor will either use a non-toxic bonding agent to cement the retainer in place if it is a fixed retainer or gives the patient instructions on how to insert, remove, and care for the retainer.

What are the basics of retainer use and care?

Each patient needs to learn how to hold the retainer correctly to avoid damaging it. The retainer should be held with the arch points facing forward and checked for cleanliness and damage before being put into the mouth. Dr. Jahn’Shahi will show each patient how to fit the retainer over the correct teeth and then gently push the retainer into place. Patients will be given a case for the retainer, which should be used every time the retainer is removed from the mouth for eating, brushing, and flossing.

What are the benefits of wearing a retainer?

The retainer helps to prevent the teeth from sliding out of place and maintains the corrections to the smile, alignment, and bite. Retainers help to ensure that patients can chew their food properly with a proper alignment and adjusted bite. In addition to protecting the improvements to a patient’s smile from orthodontic treatment, retainers help patients who suffer from breathing problems while sleeping. They also help those with speech difficulties as the patient will have improved tongue placement with proper teeth alignment.

How Long Do Retainers Have to Be Worn?

Most orthodontists will want to monitor the progress of a patient’s teeth for a year or two, and the retainer will be worn through this period. Depending on the patient and the severity of the correction completed with braces, the doctor will recommend full or part-time wear.