The Importance of Retainers: Maintaining Your Smile After Braces or Invisalign

Learn how retainers maintain your smile long after orthodontic treatment

Congratulations! You’ve finally completed your journey with braces or Invisalign, and your smile is now beautifully aligned. It’s an exciting moment, one that marks the end of a transformative process. However, before you embark on this new chapter of life with your straightened teeth, there’s one crucial step you mustn’t overlook: wearing your retainers.

Retainers are often an afterthought, seen as a minor inconvenience after the main treatment. Yet, they help ensure your teeth maintain their new alignment over the long term. In this blog post, we’ll explore why retainers are so important and how they contribute to the lasting success of your orthodontic treatment.

What Is a Retainer?

A retainer is a dental appliance that’s customized to fit your mouth perfectly to keep your teeth in the correct positions. Once your treatment is finished, we will take a scan of your teeth to create your custom retainer. To maintain the smile that you worked so hard to achieve, you should wear your retainer each night. All retainers need to be replaced eventually, usually every 18 months.

Why Do I Need a Retainer?

Undergoing orthodontic treatment is a significant investment, both in terms of time and money. Whether you opted for traditional braces or Invisalign, you’ve dedicated months, or even years, to achieving a straighter smile. Retainers are the key to safeguarding this investment.

Our teeth have a natural tendency to shift back to their original positions. This is due to the constant pressure exerted by the lips, tongue, and facial muscles. Retainers help counteract this force by holding your teeth in their new positions while the surrounding bone and tissue stabilize.

In addition to preserving the alignment of your teeth, retainers also contribute to your overall oral health. When your teeth are properly aligned, it’s easier to practice positive oral hygiene habits such as brushing and flossing.

What Types of Retainers Are Available?

At Adirondack Orthodontics, we offer two types of retainers. One is made of metal with a colorful bite plate and is worn at night (the Hawley retainer), while the other is glued to the back of your teeth to be worn all the time (the lingual retainer). Both can be part of preserving your smile, but we strongly suggest a nightly retainer for all patients.

What Is the Smile Protection Program?

While your first set of retainers will be included in your treatment, we understand that it can be easy to forget to replace your retainer as often as you should. Our Smile Protection Program makes it easy to protect your teeth for life without breaking the bank. Enroll in this program, and replacement retainers will cost $35 per arch and will be shipped directly to your home. The only thing you’ll need to focus on is enjoying your healthy, perfect smile!

Protect Your Smile with a Retainer

When you undergo orthodontic treatment with us, a retainer is automatically part of the process. So, if you’d like to get your teeth properly aligned and keep them that way, turn to us! We proudly serve patients throughout Clifton Park, Albany, Latham, East Greenbush, Schenectady, and Glens Falls. We would be happy to provide you with a free initial consultation and tell you more about how we can help you achieve and keep your best smile. Schedule your first appointment today to get started!

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