Retainers
What This Page Covers:
- The Importance of Wearing Your Retainer: Wearing a retainer is crucial for maintaining your new, straight smile and preventing teeth from shifting back after treatment.
- Health Benefits: Retainers help prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health issues by keeping teeth aligned.
- Protecting Your Investment: Consistent use of retainers ensures your time and money invested in orthodontics is protected.
- Custom Options: Clemente Orthodontics offers various retainer options, including Hawley, Vivera, and permanent wire bonded retainers, tailored to your individual needs.
- Call us at New City: (845) 638-6646, Woodcliff Lake: (201) 484-0600, or Ridgewood: (201) 447-2888, or fill out our contact form to learn more about how we can help you retain your perfect smile.
After completing orthodontic treatment, there’s nothing like seeing your new, straight smile. However, getting your braces, Invisalign®, or other orthodontic device removed is not the final step in your treatment process. Wearing a retainer can help you maintain your beautiful smile and prevent your teeth from shifting back out of alignment. While wearing your retainer may seem like just another task, this small device plays a significant role in preserving the health and aesthetics of your teeth.
After receiving any orthodontic treatment, retainers must be worn to help keep your beautiful smile in place. At Clemente Orthodontics, we offer removable and permanent options. No matter which one you choose, our customizable and durable retainers are personalized for your smile and made to last. When you entrust your orthodontic care to us, you can have peace of mind that we will tailor your treatment to your unique needs.
Benefits Of Wearing Retainers
You’ve worked hard for your smile, and you want it to last! Wearing retainers is an easy way to keep your smile from shifting over your lifetime. When correctly worn, they offer the following benefits:
Types of Retainers We Offer at Clemente Orthodontics
At Clemente Orthodontics, we recognize that each patient is unique and have several retainer options to fit your unique needs. A few types of retainers our orthodontists offer include the following:
Hawley Retainers
Our most popular option, the Hawley retainer, is removable and easy to wear. Made of acrylic or plastic and connected by a thin wire, the Hawley appliance fits snuggly along your teeth. It can be worn on either the top or bottom teeth.
At first, you will be instructed to wear your retainer both day and night, except when you eat or brush your teeth. Over time, you will transition to night-wear only. Hawley appliances can also be adjusted, making them a long-lasting method for keeping your smile straight. Our patients often report that this option is extremely comfortable to wear. The Hawley retainer is also our most cost-effective and customizable option, coming in over 40 colors!
Vivera Retainers
Made by Invisalign®, Vivera appliances are made of clear, durable plastic. Patients receive four full sets after completing their orthodontic treatment. This ensures that if or when a tray cracks or dulls, patients will have a new pair on hand that perfectly fits their new smile.
Patients who wear Vivera appliances find them aesthetically pleasing and virtually unnoticeable for daytime wear. Patients may also find Vivera trays to be less bulky than other removable options.
Permanent Wire Bonded Retainers
Our permanent retainer option consists of a thin wire that is cemented to the surface of the teeth. While patients typically only receive permanent appliances on the bottom teeth, your orthodontist will help determine the best placement for your smile
Permanent retainers are an attractive option for patients who cannot wear removable appliances or who have conditions such as crowding or a bite problem. Because this retention option cannot be removed, patients must maintain excellent oral hygiene habits, such as precise brushing and flossing to keep it clean.
Many patients who have removable appliances may forget to wear them—permanent retainers remove this problem entirely. Another advantage of this option is the inability to lose it, because it is permanently bonded to your teeth.
Our orthodontists will tailor their treatment plans and retention options to your unique needs so you can have a solution that fits your lifestyle and preserves your smile.
Can you get tooth gems if you wear retainers?
Yes, you can get tooth gems with metal retainers. However, if you have clear plastic retainers, they may not fit properly over the gems. In some cases, gems can be applied to plastic retainers directly for a removable option, but this may affect retainer function.
Can you get a permanent retainer removed?
Yes, an orthodontist can remove a permanent retainer. The process involves removing the bonding cement and wire using specialized tools. Only a dental professional should perform the removal to avoid damaging your teeth. After removal, there is a risk of teeth shifting, so follow-up care may be necessary.
Trust Clemente Orthodontics With Your Oral Health
At Clemente Orthodontics, we understand the importance of preserving your beautiful smile after orthodontic treatment. Our practice offers a range of retainer options tailored to fit your unique needs. Our experienced team provides personalized care and ensures your retainers are durable and effective, helping you maintain the health and aesthetics of your smile.
Our family practice has decades of experience and is here to help you maintain and improve your oral health. Call us at New City: (845) 638-6646, Woodcliff Lake: (201) 484-0600, or Ridgewood: (201) 447-2888, or fill out our contact form to learn more about how we can help you retain your perfect smile.
