DENTIST NEAR ME REDLANDS CA

Retainers by the Best Dentist in Redlands, CA

Redlands, CA dentist, Dr. Steve Tatevossian, offers orthodontic treatment for patients desiring straighter, more aligned teeth. When braces are finally removed, the patient is then fitted for a retainer, which is the final phase of treatment for orthodontic work.
This procedure can help keep the teeth in their new and improved position and aims to stop the natural tendency teeth have to go back to their previous position. A retainer is a fixed or removable dental appliance custom-made to fit the teeth. Made of clear plastic and thin wires to minimize discomfort, retainers can be worn for different lengths of time. The dentist usually decides how long a patient should wear a retainer depending on the orthodontic treatment they had as well as their age. Patients must adhere to a proactive effort to wear their retainer after orthodontic work. Patients who neglect using their retainer as directed risk getting poor or delayed results.

Types Of Retainers

There are a variety of retainers available, each one geared towards treating a different kind of dental problem. Dr. Tatevossian will make a retainer recommendation depending on the nature of the original diagnosis and the orthodontic treatment plan.
The following are some of the most common types of retainers:

Hawley Retainer
A Hawley retainer is designed with a hard plastic plate connected by a thin metal wire. The retainer is personalized and shaped to fit comfortably on the roof of your mouth. The metal wire sits on the front of your top teeth, and the dentist periodically adjusts it to ensure your healthy smile stays that way after treatment.
Essix
The Essix is a dental device made of transparent plastic that snaps to your teeth to maintain their new and improved alignment. Patients are usually asked to wear them full time and eventually move into sleeping time only.
Fixed Retainer
The name says it all. This type of retainer has a single wire that can not be removed because it’s affixed to your teeth. This permanent retainer keeps your teeth from returning to their previous position, and you don’t have to worry about losing it or putting it back on, which warranties you can keep your new dazzling smile for good.

These are a few basic things to consider for proper use and maintenance of your retainer:

Don't lose the appliance
Many retainers get lost as people take them off and put them in a napkin. To avoid this situation from happening to you, make sure you put your retainer in the bright colored case it came in while eating, drinking, or brushing. By following this simple tip, you can save the time and money needed to create a replacement.
Don't drink while wearing a retainer
Remember to remove your retainer when drinking since excess liquid kept by the retainer can dramatically increase the risk of acid exposure to teeth and host bacteria that may result in tooth decay.
Don't eat while wearing a retainer
Biting into your retainer can surely damage it or cause oral injury. In addition to this, food could get caught on the retainer, hosting bacteria and creating bad breath and cavities.
Clean the retainer properly
Brushing and flossing should be an integral part of your oral health routine since retainers can host bacteria and accumulate plaque when not cleaned often and well enough. It’s also recommended that you follow your dentist’s advice on the type of bristles and the optimal way to clean your personalized retainer to extend its functional time as much as possible.
Wear the retainer as directed
Retainers have a very specialized job: to give muscles, soft tissue, and bones time to consolidate the teeth in their new position. We know that after all the time you wore braces, you might be tempted to avoid wearing your retainer, but it’s important to remember that time, money, and effort can be lost if your teeth return to their misaligned position. Because of this, you should wear your retainer as directed by your dentist.