Harwell & Cook Orthodontics

RETAINER INSTRUCTIONS

Retainer Instructions

HERE’S WHAT WE’LL DO:

We’ll supervise the first 12 months of your retention. This is included in your original fee. Working together, we can get maximum lifetime benefits from your investment of time, money, and effort.

We’ll provide you with one retainer for each arch. If it is lost or broken, it is imperative that you have an immediate replacement. Otherwise, your teeth will shift. (There could be a replacement fee charged.)

Schedule the necessary appointments for the next 12 months.

Carefully supervise the wear and care of your retainers (and help you with any problems). Lingual bonded retainers are more difficult to maintain. If a bonded retainer is lost, it is the doctor’s discretion to replace it with a clear retainer and not rebond the lingual wire. Monitor the development of wisdom teeth and keep you and your dentist advised while you are in the retention period.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:

Return to your family dentist six weeks after having your braces removed for an exam and cleaning. This will allow any tissue swelling to go down and the teeth to settle into their new position. Brush and floss thoroughly to protect that beautiful smile!

Wear your retainers as instructed. For the first two weeks, wear them all the time. After this initial period, wear them 10–12 hours a day (while at home and sleeping).

Keep your appointments. If you miss more than one appointment, we can’t control your retention, and we will have to charge for any subsequent visits.

Always bring your retainers to appointments so that the doctor can check and adjust it.

Take care of your retainers. Clean them daily with your toothbrush and paste. Do not wrap them in a napkin, as they may be thrown away. Do not leave it in a hot car; it will warp. Dogs and other animals love to chew on them. Keep them in the retainer case when they are not being worn. Also, it is helpful to soak your retainers in denture cleaner to freshen it up. If you lose or break a retainer, please call us immediately. The teeth will move if retainers are not worn. There is a charge to replace lost, unworn, or broken retainers, so please be careful.

Keeping your smile straight depends on YOU!