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Orthodontic Retainers in Cookeville and Hendersonville, TN

Congratulations,you’ve finished the active stage of treatment! Your braces have been taken off or your aligners no longer need to be worn. Now we’re ready to begin the retention stage of your treatment.

To keep the beautiful smile you now have, you need to wear your retainer to ensure the teeth remain in their new, straightened positions. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, but don’t worry, at Koen Orthodontics, we’ll work with you to create the right plan for you, your lifestyle, and your teeth. Read on to learn more about retainers.

Congratulations,you’ve finished the active stage of treatment! Your braces have been taken off or your aligners no longer need to be worn. Now we’re ready to begin the retention stage of your treatment.

To keep the beautiful smile you now have, you need to wear your retainer to ensure the teeth remain in their new, straightened positions. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, but don’t worry, at Koen Orthodontics, we’ll work with you to create the right plan for you, your lifestyle, and your teeth. Read on to learn more about retainers.

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What Are Retainers and Why Are They Necessary?

Retainers are appliances that prevent your teeth from relapsing into their original, pre-treatment positions. They can either be bonded or removable, and how long you wear them often depends on the severity of your original orthodontic malocclusions. Retainers are a vital part of the continuing maintenance of your teeth and bite health and alignment.

Without retainers, your teeth would slowly shift back and you would have similar orthodontic issues to the ones you had prior to any treatment. With retainers, your teeth, jaw and gums have more time to adjust and stabilize in the new alignments.

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Types of Retainers Available at Koen Orthodontics

We offer two types of retainers at Koen Orthodontics so our patients can find the option that fits best for their lifestyle, desired comfort levels, and budget.
Some patients choose one or the other, while others choose a combination of both.

Removable retainers are often made of a clear, plastic-like material that looks a lot like clear aligners. A custom mold of your teeth is made through either a mold impression or digital imaging system, and the retainers you receive will fit perfectly onto your teeth.

We also offer the more traditional kind of removable retainer, which is made of a thin metal wire that surrounds the front of your teeth and connects together with an acrylic piece that rests on the roof of your mouth.

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A fixed, or bonded, retainer will remain in your mouth for as long as needed for your specific case.Fixed retainers are made of metal wires that are worn against the back of your teeth so they remain hidden and discreet. The metal piece is bonded to your teeth.

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Benefits of Wearing a Retainer

The biggest benefit of properly wearing a retainer after active treatment is that it keeps your beautiful smile straight! When worn properly, retainers can keep your teeth in their corrected positions for years and years to come, preventing any future need for orthodontic treatment.

Some of the benefits of a removable retainer are:

  • They can be removed to eat, drink, and brush your teeth
  • They make it easier to brush and floss your teeth
  • They are easy to clean

Some of the benefits of a fixed retainer are:

  • It can never be misplaced, lost, or accidentally thrown away
  • It can never be worn for too little time
  • It hides discreetly behind your teeth
Man admiring the results of his orthodontic treatment in the mirror
Clear retainers soaking in a glass with cleaning solution

Cleaning and Caring for Your Retainer

When retainers are not being worn (if they’re removable), they should be kept in the case that we give you in the office, this will ensure you don’t accidentally misplace them or throw them out. When you take your retainers out to brush your teeth, clean them using lukewarm water and non-abrasive antibacterial soap. Use a q-tip or very soft toothbrush to provide gentle pressure while cleaning. You may also choose to buy and use a retainer cleaning solution for maintenance and care.

Make sure you don’t use hot water, or leave your retainer in an environment that is too warm, as they can easily warp. It’s also important that you keep your removable retainer put away and out of reach of your pets. Retainers can quickly become a very expensive chew toy!

If you have a bonded retainer, we recommend flossing at least once a day with a floss threader between the retainer and gums. When brushing, be careful to clean the wire and the tongue side of your lower teeth. If the bond between the retainer and the back of your teeth becomes loose, please call our office and schedule an appointment so the bond can be repaired.

Koen Orthodontics Can Help With All of Your Retainers Questions

Dr. Koen and our staff will actively monitor your retainer wearing for up to 18 months after the removal of your braces or completion of clear aligners treatment. Your final orthodontic result depends on your proper retainer use. You’ve put in a lot of hard work to properly align your teeth — don’t give up on them now!

Schedule an appointment with us or get your free consultation today to talk about retainers with our staff.

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