ProviderRetainers for Long-Lasting Results
Congratulations on completing your active orthodontic treatment! The next step is protecting your new smile with a retainer. Teeth naturally shift over time, so wearing your retainer as instructed is essential to maintain your results.
At Cory Liss Orthodontics, we offer several retainer options to suit your treatment and lifestyle, including:
- Removable retainers featuring a durable acrylic base and metal wire to help maintain tooth alignment.
- Fixed retainers bonded behind the front teeth for continuous, low-profile retention.
- Custom in-house retainers made from durable, clear material for a comfortable fit and long-lasting wear.
Retainers are the final step in your journey, helping protect the time and investment you’ve put into your new smile.
Enroll in Our Smile Protection Program
To help our patients manage costs, we're pleased to offer our Smile Protection Program. When you enrol, you pay a one-time fee to get unlimited replacement retainers over 7 years. It's easy, and it takes the worry out of replacing your retainers.
Why Retainers Matter
Completing your orthodontic treatment is a huge milestone, but keeping your teeth in their new positions requires ongoing care, which is why retainers are important.
During treatment, your teeth are guided to gradually move into proper alignment. Once the treatment has ended, the bone and surrounding tissues need time to adapt and stabilize in their new positions. Without a retainer to help with this process, your teeth can gradually shift back to their original positions.
Protecting Your New Smile
Following your orthodontist's instructions on retainer wear will help keep your teeth in their preferred alignment while your jawbone and supporting tissues settle. By making your retainer part of your daily routine, you can help maintain a healthy, well-aligned smile for years.
Retainer FAQs
Learn some retainer basics by reading these frequently asked questions from our patients.
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How long do I have to wear my retainer?
It is extremely important to follow the instructions given to you by Dr. Liss in order to maintain the desired treatment results.
Wear your retainers full time until the doctor instructs otherwise.
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How often do I have to wear my retainer?
For the first few months of retainer wear after active orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will instruct you to wear your retainer 24 hours a day, every day. This is because these early months of the retention phase are when your teeth are most likely to relapse (shift back to their pre-treatment positions).
During this time, you'll take your retainer out only to eat, brush and floss your teeth, or play sports (when you'll need to wear a sports mouth guard instead).
Over time, your teeth will settle into their new positions, and your risk of relapse will decrease. When your orthodontist has determined you're ready, you'll be able to start wearing your retainer for fewer hours a day. For many people, this means overnight retainer wear only.
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How often should I replace my retainer?
With proper care and correct use, most retainers can last for years.
The following signs indicate that a new retainer might be in order:
Cracks or Chips
When you start noticing chips or cracks in your retainer, it's time to replace it. This type of damage will only get worse over time, and it will also compromise the structural integrity of the retainer, making it less effective.
Poor Fit
Retainers are designed to be sturdy and durable, but they may start to loosen over time with wear. It's important to replace your retainer if you notice that the fit is loose, because at that point, it is no longer effectively supporting your teeth.
Excessive Buildup
You should be cleaning your retainer regularly to keep it in good shape. However, even if you're doing this, stubborn buildup can occur over time. If your retainer has buildup that can't be removed with a thorough cleaning, it should be replaced.
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Can I eat or drink while wearing my retainer?
Take your retainers out when eating, and always put your retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants.)
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How do I clean my orthodontic retainer?
Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque and eliminates odours. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but they do not replace brushing.
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How do I store my retainer?
When retainers are not in your mouth, they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them!
Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.
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What happens if I forget to put my retainer in?
It's important to wear your retainer as prescribed by your orthodontist to ensure that your orthodontic treatment results are maintained.
That said, if you occasionally forget to wear your retainer for short periods of time, you probably have nothing to worry about. Just go back to wearing it consistently as soon as you remember.
Keep in mind that if you don't wear your retainer consistently, there's a chance your teeth could shift out of position, and you'll require more corrective orthodontic treatment to realign them. To avoid this, prioritize wearing your retainer as prescribed.