Care of bonded lingual retainer
A bonded lingual retainer is a form of retention utilizing a wire, contoured accurately to the back of your lower front teeth and bonded directly to the inside surface of your lower four front teeth (incisors), just as your braces were bonded to the outside. The material used to bond this type of retainer is the same material used to bond your braces. It is a tooth-colored material referred to as dental composite.
This retainer is absolutely the best method to maintain your beautiful smile and prevent the teeth from shifting. What makes the bonded lingual retainer such a great appliance is that it is not a removable retainer: you cannot remove it because it is permanently attached.
These are the steps to properly care for your bonded retainer.
- The bonding material can break; therefore, you must not bite directly into anything such as suckers, ice or chew on hard objects against your retainer. The retainer should maintain itself under normal eating conditions.
- Incorrect biting can result in breakage and tooth movement can occur within a very short period of time. Call the office if you notice your appliance is loose or if you notice any movement of your teeth.
- Because the retainer is bonded to the lower front teeth, it is more difficult to floss between each tooth. Our assistants will be happy to demonstrate this for you!
- When brushing, be extra careful to clean the wire and the inside of your lower teeth.
- If your retainer becomes loose within the first year following the removal of your braces, there is no additional charge to re-cement the appliance.
Care of your upper and lower removable retainers
On the day you have your braces removed, you begin an important phase of your orthodontic treatment: RETENTION. Over the past months, your teeth have moved a considerable distance and are not yet firm. Your orthodontic retainers have been carefully designed to hold your teeth in their new positions until they are stable. The retention period should be maintained indefinitely. This period is an essential part of your treatment.
Your retainers are removable appliances designed to maintain your teeth in their corrected positions. Follow these instructions carefully.
- The retainer should be worn 24 hours a day for the first three to nine months (except during meals and brushing) unless otherwise instructed.
- Every patient will be instructed as to their specific full-time retention period.
- Later, when instructed, you may wear your retainers at night only.
- The retainer’s plastic taste will disappear quickly, and your speech will return to normal after a few days of wearing them.
- Because retainers have fragile structures, it is necessary to be delicate when placing, removing, or handling them. Please avoid flipping the retainer with your tongue. This can damage your tooth enamel or break the retainer wires.
- Your teeth need time to adjust to the retainer and therefore your mouth may become sore. However, the soreness will disappear in three or four days.
- Remove the retainer by pulling down the clasps around the back teeth. Do not pull down on the wire across the front. This can break the wire.
- Clean the retainers by brushing it with your toothbrush and soaking in warm water and denture cleaner tablets. If you don’t, a hard deposit can form on the surface.
- Avoid storing retainers near any heat source: do not boil your retainers.
- When retainers are not in your mouth they need to be in the case. Do not wrap in a napkin –someone will mistake them for trash and throw them away!
- Pets love retainers, so be sure to keep them out of their reach.
- Please bring your retainers to each appointment.
Additional Charges
Remember, your first set of retainers have been paid for in the original contract. However, there will be an additional charge to replace a lost or damaged retainer. So please be very careful with them.