Retention

At Accorde Orthodontists, we believe everyone deserves a healthy, beautiful smile they can be proud of in any situation. We provide high-quality, convenient orthodontic treatment for a variety of orthodontic treatments and our doctors and a team of orthodontic specialists work hard to make every visit to our office a pleasant experience. We know you’ll be excited when you get your braces off, but you’re not quite out of the woods yet – now comes the retention phase of treatment.

Types of Retainers

Depending on your specific needs, we’ll fit you for your own unique retainers:

Clear Retainer: Clear retainers are similar to Invisalign aligners, and they’re made from a clear plastic material and made to fit directly onto the dental arch. Clear aligner-type retainers are virtually invisible when worn and easy to take in and out.

Fixed: Fixed or Bonded retainers use a thin metal wire that’s bonded to the inside (tongue-side) of the teeth with special dental cement. This means fixed retainers aren’t removable, as they’re fixed in the mouth – but they’re also invisible because they’re on the inside of the teeth.

Caring For Your Retainers

Just like your teeth and your braces, you’ll need to keep your retainer clean to keep it safe from germs and bacteria. Gently brush your clear retainers with your toothbrush gently to avoid scratching. You can also soak it in a cup with vinegar and water. Make sure you keep your retainer safe: Do not put in hot water, always keep it in the case, and keep away from animals. You can brush and floss a bonded fixed retainer just like you do to all your teeth, although you’ll likely need to use a floss threader to get underneath the wire.

With care and diligent use, your retainer will help to protect your new smile, ensuring you enjoy it for years to come. If you have any questions on retention, feel free to call us at 763-425-9888 or reach out to us at our contact page. Or, if you’d like to come in for an appointment, just request one online at our Maple Grove, Rogers, Champlin, MN or any of our other offices.