Retainers
Protect your smile for years to come
Congratulations, you've reached a huge milestone in your orthodontic journey! Finishing treatment is something to celebrate, but it's also the beginning of the next important phase: retention.
Your retainer is the final step in protecting the beautiful smile you've worked so hard to achieve. While teeth naturally have a tendency to shift over time, wearing your retainer as instructed helps maintain your results for years to come. Think of your retainer as insurance for your smile, it protects the time, commitment, and investment you've made in your orthodontic treatment.
Why Retainers Matter
Your braces or Invisalign created your smile. Your retainer keeps it that way. Even after treatment is complete, your teeth naturally want to shift over time. Wearing your retainer consistently helps maintain your alignment and protects the beautiful results you've worked so hard to achieve.
Retainers help:
Maintain your alignment
Upper clear retainer:
worn every night
Protect your smile
Prevent the need for future treatment
Consistency is key!
Wearing your retainer is what keeps your results lasting.
A fixed, or lingual, retainer is a thin braided wire bonded to the back of your front teeth to hold them in place continuously. Because it stays in place, it works around the clock to maintain alignment without needing to remember to wear it. Although they work around the clock, good brushing and flossing around the wire is essential for keeping your teeth and gums healthy.
Lower removable retainer:
worn 22 hours/day for the first 6 months (remove only to eat and brush), then may transition to nighttime wear
Types of Retainers
Removable Retainers
Removable retainers are custom-made, mainly transparent trays designed to fit snugly over your teeth and help maintain your orthodontic results after treatment. They are comfortable, discreet, and removable, allowing you to easily take them out for eating, brushing, and cleaning. With proper care, they are a convenient and popular option for long-term retention.
Brush your retainers daily
Avoid hot water
Fixed Retainers
Invisalign® Vivera™ Retainers
For patients who have completed Invisalign treatment, we offer Invisalign® Vivera™ retainers. Made from Invisalign’s premium SmartTrack™ material, Vivera retainers are stronger and more durable than standard clear retainers. They are designed specifically for long-term wear, helping maintain your results while remaining clear, comfortable, and easy to clean. With proper care, a single set can last for years, making them a reliable option for protecting your smile.
How to wear your Retainer
Your doctor will give you personalized instructions, but here’s what most patients can expect:
Vivera (Invisalign) retainers:
worn every night
Caring for your Retainers
Retainer care made easy
Everyday Tips
Remove retainers before eating or drinking anything other than water
Always store them in their case when not in use
“If it’s not in your face, it’s in your case”
Keep them away from pets and small children
Never leave your retainer in a hot car.
Watch our quick video guide on how to properly clean and care for your retainer.
Cold water only
Skip Toothpaste
Mild Soap
Rinse before storing
If your Retainer is lost or broken
If your retainer is lost, broken, or no longer fits properly, contact our office as soon as possible. Teeth can begin shifting surprisingly quickly without a properly fitting retainer, so it's important to replace it promptly.
Replacement fees may apply.