If
you recently completed treatment at Caponera Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been
removed, Dr. Rinaldo Caponera will
provide you with retainers. After braces are removed the teeth can shift out of
position if they are not stabilized. Retainers provide that stabilization. They
are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones
and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as
instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a
lifetime. Here are some things to remember when you receiver your retainer:
- Wear your retainers full time, until Dr. Caponera instructs otherwise.
- Take your retainers out when eating...and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
- Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and only a small amount of toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water.
- When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case.
- Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practicing speaking, reading, or singing aloud to get used to them quicker is a good idea.
- Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, give us a call immediately.
- Try to remember to bring your retainers to your appointments.
- Retainer replacement is expensive...with proper care they will last for years!
- Remove retainers when swimming or during any sporting activity in which the retainers could fall out and get broken or lost (cheerleading, basketball, etc.) or when you should be wearing a mouth guard (football, soccer, etc.).
- Keep retainers away from hot water, pockets, the washing machine and napkins.
We hope this helps! You can always contact our team if you have any questions!