Orthodontic Retainers in Anaheim, CA
After orthodontic treatment, wearing your retainer as prescribed is the key to keeping your new smile. At AppleTree Dental in Anaheim, CA , Mike Kang, DDS, and his caring team provide custom retainers for teens and adults that hold teeth in their proper positions and protect the results you worked hard to achieve. To make an appointment for you or your child to get a retainer, call (714) 907-0606 or schedule an appointment online today.
Book OnlineWhat Are Retainers?
A retainer is a custom orthodontic appliance that fits snugly over or behind your teeth. Retainers are made from plastic or acrylic, and some include thin metal wires that help hold teeth in place on the upper or lower dental arch.
Retainers play an essential role in orthodontic care. After you finish treatment with braces or clear aligners, a retainer keeps your teeth in their new, optimal positions and prevents them from gradually drifting back.
Why Are Retainers Necessary?
Everyone who completes orthodontic treatment eventually needs a retainer. Even after your braces come off, your teeth don’t automatically stay in their new positions. It can take several months to years for the bone, gums, and ligaments around your teeth to fully adjust. Daily chewing, speaking, and natural aging can also cause your bite to shift over time.
A retainer counteracts these forces, helping you enjoy a positive outcome and long-lasting results from your orthodontic investment.
Types of Retainers We Offer
AppleTree Dental offers two main types of retainers, and Dr. Kang will recommend the best option for your needs.
Removable Retainers
Removable retainers fit over your teeth much like a mouthguard and are made of clear plastic or acrylic. They’re easy to take out for eating, brushing, and flossing, and simple to keep clean.
Fixed Retainers
A fixed, or permanent, retainer is a thin wire bonded to the back of your front teeth. Because it stays in place at all times, it’s especially effective at keeping front teeth from shifting or spreading apart, and you never have to remember to put it in.
What to Expect When Getting a Retainer
Getting a retainer at AppleTree Dental typically takes two visits spaced about a week apart.
When your braces or aligner treatment is complete, Dr. Kang takes precise digital impressions of your teeth with the Medit i500® intraoral scanner. These scans are sent to an orthodontic lab that designs and manufactures your custom retainer.
About a week later, you’ll return to our office. For a fixed retainer, Dr. Kang bonds it to the back of your teeth. For a removable retainer, he checks the fit, makes sure it feels comfortable, and shows you how to clean and care for it.
How Long Do You Need to Wear a Retainer?
Dr. Kang typically recommends wearing your retainer for 4-6 months*, removing it only to eat, brush, and floss. After that, he’ll reevaluate your progress. Most patients then continue wearing their retainer at night while sleeping for life to keep their smile in place.
Tips for Caring for Your Retainer
- Clean your removable retainer daily to prevent plaque and odor
- Always store it in its case when it’s not in your mouth
- Keep it away from hot water, heat, and pets
- Brush and floss carefully around a fixed retainer
- Bring your retainer to your regular checkups
If your retainer is lost, cracked, or no longer fits, contact our office promptly so your teeth don’t have time to shift.
Protect Your New Smile in Anaheim
To explore the benefits of custom retainers, call AppleTree Dental at (714) 907-0606 or schedule an appointment online today.
*Individual results may vary
Retainers FAQs
Why do I need a retainer after braces or aligners?
Teeth can gradually shift back toward their original positions after orthodontic treatment. A retainer holds them in place while the surrounding bone and gums adjust.
What types of retainers does AppleTree Dental offer?
AppleTree Dental offers removable retainers made of plastic or acrylic and fixed retainers that are bonded to the back of the front teeth.
How long do I have to wear my retainer?
Dr. Kang typically recommends wearing your retainer for 4-6 months, removing it only to eat and clean your teeth, then wearing it at night long term. Individual results vary.
How many visits does it take to get a retainer?
Getting a retainer usually takes two visits about a week apart, one for digital impressions and one to fit or bond the finished retainer.
What should I do if I lose or break my retainer?
Contact AppleTree Dental as soon as possible so a replacement can be made before your teeth have time to shift.
Is a fixed retainer better than a removable one?
Each has benefits. Fixed retainers stay in place at all times, while removable retainers are easier to clean. Dr. Kang will recommend the best option for you.
How do I clean my retainer?
Clean a removable retainer daily and store it in its case when not in use. For a fixed retainer, brush and floss carefully around the wire every day.