Retainers

You might need a retainer for a few reasons. The most common reason is to help your teeth stay set in their new positions after wearing braces. It is very important to wear your retainer because as your body grows, your teeth may do some shifting. The retainer helps to control this shifting, which occurs naturally. After your braces are removed, Dr. Brandon will fit you for a retainer and tell you how long to wear it and when. For example, you might have to wear it all day for 3 months but then only at night after that. Some patients may wear their retainer only at night right from the start, but they may have to wear it for more than a year. The retainer keeps the teeth in line and you won’t even notice it while you’re sleeping!

When you wear a retainer for any reason, certain teeth may feel pressure and might even feel sore for the first few days. If you experience this, don’t worry — it’s completely normal.