Retainers

Congratulations! You did it! We are proud of you!

Now 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. In many cases, Dr. Caskey will bond permanent retainers on the back of your upper and lower front teeth. These permanent retainers are great in most cases; however, like anything, they have limitations. The bonded retainers can be prone to breaking or becoming loose. When this occurs you must report this to Dr. Caskey or his staff and make an appointment to resolve this problem. In some patients, the use of these permanent retainers is not suitable. Whether you have bonded retainers or not, you still need to wear any removable retainers as directed by Dr. Caskey to help protect your investment. Retainers prevent the teeth from moving back to their original position.

With the use of retainers, 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 a natural change that we have learned to accept in orthodontics.

HERE'S WHAT WE'LL DO:

• We'll provide you with retainers for each arch. If a retainer, removable or bonded, is lost or broken, it is imperative that you have an immediate replacement. Otherwise, your teeth will shift.
• We'll carefully supervise the wear and care of your retainers and help with any problems.
• We'll schedule the necessary appointments.
• We'll monitor development of wisdom teeth and keep you and your dentist advised.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

• Return to your family dentist for examination and cleaning. Brush and floss thoroughly everyday to protect that beautiful smile.
• Wear your retainer as instructed. 24-hours a day for the first 3 months, then as instructed.
• Keep your appointments. If you miss more than one appointment, your bite may shift to a position that is difficult to maintain with retainers.
• Take care of your retainers. Clean them as instructed. Don't wrap them in a napkin, as they may be thrown away. Dogs and other pets 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. If your retainer is bonded to the back of your teeth and comes loose, your teeth will be prone to moving]. There is a charge to replace lost or broken retainers (bonded or removable), so please be careful.

HERE'S WHAT WE GUARANTEE:
IF YOU DON'T WEAR YOU RETAINER – YOUR TEETH WILL BECOME CROOKED AGAIN!

Retainers

The retainers that you'll be receiving are designed to retain (or hold) your teeth in their finished position. Unless instructed otherwise, you must wear the retainers every night while sleeping. Always bring your retainers with you when visiting the office.

Vacuum Formed Retainer(s)

Please be absolutely certain that these are picked-up at the office tomorrow and worn each and every night 7 nights per week while sleeping. The retainer(s) you'll receive are clear, thin plastic and will cover all of your teeth. This type of retainer is called a vacuum formed retainer and it's very easy to slip these retainers over your teeth. Simply place and press it onto your teeth until fully seated. If you are receiving upper and lower vacuum formed retainers, there's only one way that they'll fit. The top retainer will not fit on the bottom teeth.

It's very important to carefully clean your teeth by brushing, flossing, and rinsing well just before the retainers are placed in your mouth. Never drink carbonated beverages, juice, milk, (or anything except plain water) before the retainers are worn. Failure to follow these instructions could result in decay and discoloration of your teeth from sugars that may be on your teeth. The retainer itself should be cleaned with cool water and a toothbrush. The plastic is very heat sensitive. If it's placed in hot water or exposed to any high temperatures (like in a hot car) the plastic will melt and the retainer will be ruined. This will mean crooked teeth and added expense which will upset everybody.

When not in your mouth, be certain that your retainer is kept in its protective case. Never wrap retainers in a napkin or paper towel. If you go to spend the night with a friend, it's OK to not wear your retainers for 1 night. Skipping 3 nights in a row is a bad idea. Caution: if a dog gets the retainer it will be destroyed. (This could lead to bad feelings about the dog and I'm sure you like your dog - so, let's keep it that way.) Always bring your retainers with you when visiting the office.

Teeth shift with age......it all shifts with age.

As you get older your face will look different. A great deal of research has proven that just as your face changes and shifts with age, your teeth will shift with age.* This is true for everyone, whether they've had their teeth straightened or not, and it is especially true for the lower front teeth. Therefore, as we say, wrinkling skin, wrinkling teeth. So, if you want your teeth to stay really straight you must wear your retainers about 5 nights per week for the rest of your life. Only those retainers will succeed in the battle against aging of the teeth. The reality is that most people are not willing to wear retainers for the rest of their life and simply accept aging of the face and shifting of teeth.

Lost or Ruined Retainers

If you think something isn't right with your retainers, be sure to call the office so that the problem can be evaluated. Don't wait more than 2 or 3 days. If you wait too long, the retainers won't fit. This will mean crooked teeth and added expense which will upset everybody. Please be careful. New retainers are very expensive.

If you have questions or concerns, please call the office and we'll be happy to help: Sherman 903-893-6341 or Gainesville 940-665-1982

References:

• Little, R.M.; Orthodontic Stability and Relapse. Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists Bulletin (PCSO), pp 35 - 38, Spring, 1991
• Behrents, R.G.; Growth in the Aging Craniofacial Skeleton. Center for Human Growth and Development. University of Michigan, 1985
• Richardson, M; The Role of the Third Molar in the Cause of Late Lower Arch Crowding: A Review. AJO 95; 79 - 83; 1989