Category

Retainer

Jun 30
0

Wearing an Orthodontic Retainer

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When the time comes to remove braces, many patients are eager to show their new smiles. However, there is a second phase of orthodontic treatment after braces, and this is wearing a retainer. Orthodontic retainers are used to prevent the tension that lingers in the periodontal ligaments and teeth from causing your tooth alignment to shift. We invite you to learn more about wearing an orthodontic retainer and how it can improve your new smile.

Retainers are appliances typically made of plastic that attach to a wire that corrals the teeth in their new positions. You can receive either a removable retainer or a fixed retainer. The removable retainer has a wire worn in front of the teeth, while a fixed retainer has a wire behind the teeth and cements to your mouth.

While braces typically are removed after a few years, some patients need to wear a retainer for a lifetime to maintain treatment results. Dr. Muhammad Abey can offer instructions on using your retainer to prevent your teeth from resorting to their old alignment.

Clean your removable retainer by brushing it daily with a special toothpaste and toothbrush with soft bristles. You can also place it in a soaking solution overnight if you don’t wear it at bedtime. A fixed retainer should be brushed twice a day just like your natural teeth, and you may find that a floss threader makes it easy to clean your appliance daily.

We invite you to contact Wayne Family Orthodontics at 973-341-3180 today if you would like to speak with our orthodontist about further care instructions for your orthodontic retainer in Wayne, New Jersey.

Jul 01
0

How Do I Care for My Retainer?

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Retainers are handy appliances that can keep your teeth in their correct positions after orthodontic treatment. They can help you maintain the straight and healthy smile you’ve worked so hard for. Because it helps you, you need to help it by cleaning and caring for it regularly. To help you do so, Dr. Muhammad Abey has some tips.

The first tip he has is to clean your retainer each time you clean your smile. You can clean your retainer by soaking it in denture cleaner. All you need to do is fill a cup with warm water, add the cleanser, and then add the retainer. Just let it soak for the recommended amount of time. When it is done soaking, rinse it off with water.

The second tip is to keep your retainer in a safe place. It’s important to put it in its little retainer box. Once it’s secure in its container, you need to place the container in a place that is free from harm as well as a place you won’t forget. This can be in your bathroom cupboard, bathroom drawer, or bedside table.

If you have any questions about how to care for a retainer in Wayne, New Jersey, please call our orthodontic team at Wayne Family Orthodontics. All you need to do is dial 973-341-3180 and we will be happy to give you the answers and information you need to keep your retainer in tip-top shape!

Mar 16
0

The Best Ways to Care for Your Retainer

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Your retainer is made of sturdy and reliable materials. However, that doesn’t mean it can withstand anything. In fact, it’s very important to take good care of your retainer each and every day so it can do its job of keeping your smile straight and healthy. To help you keep your retainer in tip-top shape, Dr. Muhammad Abey and our orthodontic team have some recommendations for you.

Step No. 1: Store your retainer properly – If you keep your retainer in a safe and secure place, there is a small chance you’ll lose or damage it. So, to help you properly store your appliance, we recommend placing it in its case right after you take it out of your mouth. After doing this, put the case in a safe place, like your backpack, purse, pocket, or bathroom drawer. No matter what, do not keep the retainer in a hot environment. The hot temperature can warp and reshape it.

Step No. 2: Clean your appliance regularly – Make it a habit to clean your retainer each time you brush your teeth. To properly clean it, you can soak it in denture cleaner. All you need to do is put the cleanser pod into a warm cup of water, put the retainer in the cup, and let it soak for the time that is recommended on the cleaner label. When the time has passed, rinse the retainer with water before putting it back over your teeth.

If you follow these steps, there is a high chance you’ll maintain a strong retainer as well as a straight and top-notch smile. To learn more about how to take good care of a retainer in Wayne, New Jersey, please feel free to call Wayne Family Orthodontics at 973-341-3180 at your earliest convenience. Our orthodontic team will be happy to help you in any way we can!

Aug 13
0

How Retainers Can Keep Your Smile Straight After Braces

By | Braces, Retainer | No Comments

You’ve done it. You finished your time with braces and now you have a beautifully straight and even smile. Dr. Muhammad Abey has checked that your mouth is functioning well, and now it’s time to remove the braces! Now it’s time to make sure that progress stays with you by using a retainer.

The periodontal ligaments that anchor your teeth in your mouth are still trying to pull your teeth back to their original positions. The customized retainer our orthodontist makes for you will combat that pull. You will need to wear the retainer until the tension eases so there’s no more danger of relapse.

As the tension in the ligaments changes and relaxes, Dr. Muhammad Abey may tell you to change when you should wear your retainer during the day and how long you should wear it. You will likely need to wear your retainer for the same amount of time as you wore your braces

For the first few days after you start wearing a retainer, your mouth might salivate more. This is natural and to be expected. After a while, your mouth will adapt and your saliva production will return to normal.

If your braces are about to be removed, and you have questions about retainers, you can call Wayne Family Orthodontics’s office in Wayne, New Jersey at 973-341-3180 for a consultation.

May 28
0

Taking Care of Your Clear Plastic Retainer

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Once your braces have been removed by Wayne Family Orthodontics you will be fitted for a retainer. A retainer is designed to help mitigate any lingering tension in your periodontal ligaments, allowing your teeth to retain their new alignment for many years to come. Without a retainer this residual tension can cause your teeth to relapse back toward their previous alignment. By keeping your new clear plastic retainer clean and wearing it during the prescribed times, you can keep the amount of time you need to wear a retainer to the bare minimum.

There are three different types of retainers that Wayne Family Orthodontics commonly prescribes. You might be a candidate for a clear plastic retainer if your teeth only needed minor adjustment by your braces. A clear plastic retainer is very similar to aligner trays like Invisalign or Clear Correct. In fact, the clear plastic material makes it hard for the casual observer to even notice you’re wearing it.

While wearing a clear plastic retainer, you can drink and speak normally. However, you should take it out when you are eating. You should never use tobacco products while wearing the retainer as this could damage the retainer or cause other problems.

You should rinse your clear plastic retainer every time you take it out. To refresh the unit at night you can soak it in a mixture of half cold water and half antiseptic mouthwash. You can lightly brush the interior with a soft tooth brush and nonabrasive toothpaste to remove any stuck on plaque. You shouldn’t brush it with an abrasive toothpaste, as the abrasives could dull the clear plastic material and make it more noticeable when you’re wearing it.

If you have any questions about how to properly take care of your clear plastic retainer, please call Wayne Family Orthodontics at 973-341-3180 to schedule an appointment.