Retainers
I thought I was done with orthodontic treatment after my braces!
We’re in this to the finish, together! Once active orthodontic treatment (braces, Invisalign, for example) is finished, we need to ensure that we can stabilize and generalize the result. This means, we want all that hard work to stay! We don’t want your teeth shifting again and undoing the work that you’ve put in with us. That’s where retainers come in.
Without your retainer, your teeth may “relapse” or shift back to the spaces that you and your Nexus care team have worked hard to move them from, and the original orthodontic issues that you had may crop up again.
Retainers are meant to support your bone and soft tissue surrounding your teeth, giving them time to stabilize after the active orthodontic treatment. They often require a little more time than teeth do in order to stabilize to prevent future shifting or movement. Additionally, the lower incisor teeth are considered to be the most unstable teeth in the mouth and are most susceptible to relapse or shift back later on in life, perhaps even years after the active orthodontic treatment. This is why we’ll be stressing the importance of this, and we’ll probably start to sound like a broken record when we get to this stage, but that’s because it really is that important.
At Nexus Orthodontics, we take pride in being part of your journey Let’s unlock your smile together.
How does this process work?
Don’t worry - there’s still no goopy stuff involved in this process. Thanks to modern technology, all scans are taken digitally and we retain your images in our cloud - just in case. Hey, things happen!
Once we take your digital scans, we will recommend a type of retainer. There are 3 types of retainers: the clear retainers, the Hawley retainers, and the fixed retainers (see images below, respectively).
The clear retainers are fit over the teeth and worn full time for a pre-determined amount of time after active orthodontic treatment - you will discuss this in detail with your Nexus care team. After that time, it is recommended to continue to wear these nightly even after you stop coming in regularly to see us. It’ll help keep that smile unlocked!
Similar to the clear retainers, the Hawley retainers are also worn full time after active orthodontic treatment that is determined by your Nexus care team. It is also recommended to continue to wear this nightly post-treatment. Hawley retainers are acrylic and wire that go over the teeth and the roof of the mouth or under the tongue.
Fixed retainers are the best way to prevent crowding in the lower front teeth as we age, especially after orthodontic treatment. The fixed retainer is placed for you at our New Hyde Park office and we will give you instructions on how to clean under the retainer. For those with fixed retainers, it is recommended to do a cleaning with a general dentist every 6 months in order to properly care for the appliance. Fixed retainers may not be the right choice for everyone, so make sure you communicate with your Nexus care team to ensure you have the best option for you.
No matter which retainer you end up choosing for your treatment plan, we will be here each step of the way in your post-treatment to make sure you are confident even after your treatment is over. Even as your journey continues, we are always here for you. Once you’re part of the Nexus Orthodontics family, you’re part of our community forever.