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Retainers – Carmel Valley, CA
Life After Your Orthodontic Treatment
Are you or a family member about to complete orthodontic treatment? There is one important, final step to take to ensure your straight teeth and protect your investment: wearing a retainer. At Del Mar Dental Arts, we provide Invisalign clear braces and retainers to our patients in-house to make your teeth straightening experience as convenient as possible. Keep reading to learn more about our retainers and why they’re so important.
What Are Retainers?
A retainer is an oral appliance that is custom-made for each mouth to help keep your newly straightened teeth in the aligned position. They are made up of wires that go across the front and bottom teeth combined with an acrylic material to hold each component in place. While there is a slight adjustment period, you’ll quickly get used to wearing retainers. Usually designed to be completely removeable, our retainers can also help treat minor orthodontic problems. Treatment time and use of retainers in Carmel Valley will vary from patient to patient, but its vital that you follow our instructions based on your smile.
Why Are Retainers Important?
When you finish your orthodontic treatment, the last thing you want is another set of wires on your teeth, but retainers are integral to the success of your smile. They are designed to hold your teeth in place, protecting the time and money you just spent on achieving a beautifully straight smile. Once you get your retainer, the best step you can take is to follow our instructions for wear. And, eventually, you will be able to ween off of wearing it, only having to pop your retainer in a few nights a week.
Caring for Your Retainer
Proper maintenance of your retainer will help ensure that your treatment is successful, but it will also lower your risk of cavities and gum disease. When you’re not using your retainers, store them in the case we provide you. If left uncleaned, retainers are often home to plaque and bacteria buildup that can impact the rest of your mouth and even cause infection. Instead, it’s important to regularly clean your retainer. You can use soaking solution to shake loose pieces of food, and you can also use a nonabrasive toothbrush to scrub away sticky plaque. However, if your retainer has plastic components, be sure to avoid hot water because it can permanently warp the appliance.
If you have any questions about our retainers, or if you want to set an appointment with our dentist in Carmel Valley, don’t hesitate to contact our office today!
