West Union Retainers
Maintain Your Smile for Life
Retainers from Smile Designs of Southern Ohio help protect the results of your orthodontic treatment by keeping your teeth in their new positions. Wearing your retainer as directed helps keep your teeth aligned and protect your smile for years to come.
Retainer Options in West Union
Retainers are an essential part of orthodontic treatment because they help keep your teeth from shifting after braces or clear aligners. Wearing your retainer as directed protects the healthy, straight smile you've worked so hard to achieve.
At Smile Designs of Southern Ohio, Dr. Ben McDonald offers several types of retainers to fit different smiles and treatment needs. Whether you receive a removable or fixed retainer, we'll recommend the option that's right for you and explain how to care for your retainer so you can enjoy long-lasting results.
Essix Retainers
Essix retainers are clear, removable trays custom-made to fit over your teeth after orthodontic treatment. Their subtle appearance and comfortable fit make them a convenient way to help maintain your newly aligned smile.
How Essix Retainers Work
Essix retainers fit closely over your teeth to help hold them in their corrected positions. Because they are clear and removable, you can wear them discreetly and take them out when eating, brushing, and flossing.
Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers are a durable, time-tested option for maintaining your smile after braces or clear aligner treatment. Their removable design makes them easy to clean and designed for long-term use.
How Hawley Retainers Work
A Hawley retainer combines a molded acrylic base with a thin metal wire that rests across the front of your teeth. Together, these materials help keep your teeth in place while allowing the retainer to be adjusted when necessary.
In-House Retainers
In-house retainers are custom-made to match the shape of your smile and help protect your orthodontic results. Because they're fabricated in-house, they can often be replaced more quickly if they're lost, damaged, or worn.
How In-House Retainers Work
Using digital scans or impressions of your teeth, we'll create a retainer that's customized to your smile. Because it's made specifically for you, it fits comfortably while helping keep your teeth in their corrected positions.
Fixed Retainers
A fixed retainer may be recommended when certain teeth need extra support after orthodontic treatment. It stays hidden behind the teeth and is only used when Dr. McDonald determines that continuous retention would help protect your results.
How Fixed Retainers Work
A thin wire is bonded behind selected teeth to help keep them from shifting. Because it stays in place, it provides ongoing support without needing to be removed and replaced each day.
Dr. McDonald will only recommend a fixed retainer when it is appropriate for your smile. In some cases, it may also be paired with a removable retainer to help maintain your overall alignment.
Phase 1 Retainers
After Phase 1 orthodontic treatment, a child may need a retainer or another removable appliance to help maintain their progress while their teeth and jaws continue developing. This transitional period allows permanent teeth to erupt before the next stage of treatment begins.
How Phase 1 Retainers Work
The appliance is designed around your child’s specific orthodontic needs and may help preserve changes made during early treatment. Regular checkups allow Dr. McDonald to monitor jaw growth, tooth eruption, and overall development before determining whether Phase 2 treatment is needed.
Caring for Your Retainer
Your orthodontic treatment may be complete, but your retainer plays an important role in protecting your results. Wearing and caring for your retainer as directed helps keep your smile healthy, straight, and stable for years to come.
Follow these simple tips to get the most from your retainer:
- Wear your retainer according to Dr. McDonald's instructions. Remove it only when eating, brushing, or flossing, unless directed otherwise.
- Bring your retainer to your follow-up appointments so we can check its fit and condition.
- Store your retainer in its protective case whenever you're not wearing it to help prevent damage or loss.
- If your retainer becomes cracked, damaged, or no longer fits properly, contact our office as soon as possible.
- If you lose your retainer, let us know right away. Replacing it promptly can help prevent unwanted tooth movement.
- Clean your retainer daily using a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water to help remove plaque and keep it fresh.
- If your speech feels different at first, try reading or talking out loud while wearing your retainer. Most patients adjust quickly.
- Keep your retainer away from heat, including hot water, hot vehicles, and dryers, since high temperatures can warp the material.
- With proper care, your retainer can help protect your smile for years to come.
