Retainers in Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach

The Brace Place provides retainers in Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Call 904-249-0037 or contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.

What is a Retainer?

A retainer, as its name suggests, retains the current position of your teeth. Retainers are used following orthodontic treatment to maintain the results, providing support while the teeth settle into their new position. Retainers are usually worn twelve hours per day (night-time wear) which is typically sufficient to keep the teeth in place. Retainers are often made of plastic or a combination of acrylic and metal.

Benefits of a Retainer

Retainers offer many benefits as a key part of your orthodontic treatment:

• Maintain your results. The key benefit of retainers is that they keep your teeth from shifting back to their previous positions after orthodontic treatment. Once your teeth have been pushed and pulled to reach their current position, the support structures for the teeth have a looser hold, making the teeth likely to move back to their old position. Retainers keep them in place until the support structures can tighten down on the teeth as they settle into their new places.
• Removable. Most retainers can be removed while you eat and when you clean your teeth, which means you can ditch the old food restrictions and special brushing and flossing tools you used while you had braces.
• May be temporary. In some cases, retainers are only needed temporarily to hold the teeth in place until the next phase of treatment. Once your treatment is complete you’ll still need retainers to maintain your final results for life.
• Can be used to refine results. After your braces or other orthodontic appliances have been removed, retainers can make small adjustments to the teeth that may be needed without having to put braces back on.

Types of Retainers

There are different types of retainers, including:

• Hawley retainers. Hawley retainers are made of a combination of acrylic and metal. The plastic fits against the soft tissues behind the teeth and the metal portion wraps around the front side of the teeth. They are removable.
• Essix retainers. Clear plastic retainers are typically called Essix. They are molded to fit your teeth and are not highly visible. They are also removable.
• Permanent retainers. Permanent retainers are made of metal wire and are cemented onto the backside of your teeth. They are not removable.

Are You a Good Candidate for a Retainer?

If you’ve had any orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist will most likely recommend a retainer. You are a good candidate for a retainer if you want to maintain the results of your recent orthodontic treatment and you don’t want to have to repeat it. Retainers are prescribed following braces, palate expanders, tooth extractions, and other orthodontic treatments.

Why Choose The Brace Place?

The Brace Place stresses the importance of retainers in the orthodontic treatment process. We believe that achieving your results is only half of the battle; maintaining your results by wearing your retainers is the next and equally important step. Dr. Goldknopf, our board-certified orthodontist, will explain how retainers work and how to wear them to keep your smile looking great.

Orthodontic treatment can be a long process. You’ll see us throughout a significant portion of your life as you grow and change, and we are proud to be a part of each of our patient’s lives. As your active treatment comes to a close and you enter the retention phase of treatment, you’ll come in less often for appointments. But we’ll always want to see you again for periodic monitoring of your results over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I need to wear retainers?

We recommend that you never stop wearing your retainers altogether. As long as they still fit when you put them back in, you’re maintaining your results. If they start to feel tight, wear them every night until the tightness subsides.

What happens if I lose my retainer?

This is a common occurrence to lose a retainer. Retainers can be replaced at a cost, but be sure to let us know right away that you need a new one. Teeth can shift back quickly without your retainers, so we will want to make you a replacement as soon as possible.

How do I clean my retainers?

We recommend that you brush your retainers with a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid scratching the plastic and clear, unscented soap that won’t transfer any dyes or perfumes onto your retainers. Use a different toothbrush than the one you use for your teeth to prevent the transfer of bacteria.

Does insurance cover retainers?

Retainers are a regular part of your orthodontic treatment, so they are covered as part of the whole treatment package. Whatever portion your insurance covers, retainers are included in the total. However, the replacement of your original retainers is not covered by insurance.

Contact Us Today

To learn more, call 904-249-0037 or contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.