RetainersPlease wear your retainer full time until otherwise instructed by Dr. Davirro. Please wear your retainer all the time except while eating, brushing, or flossing.The unpleasant taste from the plastic will disappear in a few days. A few drops of mouthwash on the retainer before putting it in your mouth will help mask the plastic taste. Brush your retainer when you brush your teeth. This will help eliminate bacteria and plaque. You may want to soak your retainer with a denture cleaner such as Polident or Efferdent (DO NOT DRINK).
If you participate in sports or activities in which your retainer can be lost or broken, do not wear it. Remove it while swimming, skiing or participating in contact sports. If for some special reason (like singing in the choir or giving a speech), you leave your retainer out of your mouth, be sure to place it back in its case. It is very easy to lose a retainer that has been wrapped in a napkin or placed in a pocket. 
Bonded RetainerFor enhanced stability of the lower front teeth, we often provide a bonded retainer. This consists of a small diameter (.0175) wire, which is bonded with a plastic adhesive (similar to the adhesive used with bonded "braces"). It is bonded to the lingual or "tongue" side of the lower front teeth. The major advantage of using this form of retention is that it ensures that the patient will wear the retainers 24 hours per day for the prescribed period.Please brush your bonded retainer when you brush your teeth. Special attention should be given to the gumline area. As with your braces, debris and plaque can accumulate between the bonding material and the gum line. Place the toothbrush at a 45° angle along the gum line and rotate the bristles so they massage the gum tissue during brushing. Flossing between your teeth is also very important. We recommend that you floss at least once a day. Using a bridge threader, place the floss between your teeth using caution not to tug at the floss because you might loosen the bonded retainer. If at any time you are unsure how to floss, please contact the office so that we can review flossing instructions. Although the bonded retainer is not a permanent retainer, it may stay placed for several years depending on the individual situation. The duration of wear will be determined by you and Dr. Davirro. The first time your bonded retainer comes loose, it will be repaired at no charge. Additional repairs will result in additional fees. If you forget to wear your retainer, push the retainer into place using your fingers and wear full-time until they feel comfortable again and the teeth realign. If they do not, call the office immediately. Your retainer may come loose from biting on hard foods. Please refer to Do's and Don'ts. |