Retainers help hold your teeth in their new positions after braces or Invisalign. Trusted Dental & Orthodontics provides removable and bonded retainers, with a wear schedule set by Dr. Nathan Nourian.
WHY TEETH SHIFT
When braces or aligners come off, the gum fibers and bone around your teeth are still adapting to their new positions. Those fibers tend to pull teeth back toward where they started, and natural changes with age can also cause gradual crowding over time. A retainer helps resist that movement.
Dr. Nourian recommends a retainer type and wear schedule based on how your teeth moved during treatment. We check your retainer's fit at follow-up visits, and because general dentistry is in the same office, our dental team can keep an eye on it at routine cleanings too.
RETAINER OPTIONS
Dr. Nourian will recommend an option, or a combination, based on your teeth, your habits and how much movement your case involved.
Thin, clear plastic trays that fit snugly over your teeth. They're easy to take out for eating and cleaning, but they only work while you wear them.
A thin wire bonded behind the front teeth. It works around the clock without you having to remember it, but it needs careful flossing to keep the area clean.
Some patients wear a bonded retainer plus a removable retainer at night for added support. Dr. Nourian will let you know if that approach makes sense for you.
Many patients start with more frequent wear, then move to nights only. Follow the schedule Dr. Nourian gives you, since needs vary from patient to patient.
If a retainer is lost, cracked or no longer fits, call us. We can make a new one so you can get back on schedule before your teeth have a chance to move.
If you stopped wearing your retainer and your teeth have shifted, limited orthodontic treatment may be able to correct it before a new retainer is made.
WEARING YOUR RETAINER
For most patients, retainer wear is a long-term habit. Teeth can keep shifting slowly throughout life, so orthodontists commonly recommend nighttime retainer wear well into the future after an initial period of more frequent wear. How long that first period lasts varies by patient, and Dr. Nourian will tell you exactly what to do.
Bring your retainer to follow-up appointments so we can check its fit. If it starts to feel tight, that can be a sign your teeth are trying to move, so let us know early rather than waiting.
WHY CHOOSE US
Retention is the last phase of treatment, and we stay involved after your braces or aligners come off.
Each retainer is made for your teeth so it holds them comfortably in their finished positions.
Dr. Nourian and our dental team check your alignment at follow-up and routine visits, so minor shifting can be addressed early.
We accept most major PPO plans and offer financing through CareCredit, Sunbit and Cherry for qualified applicants.
Retainer checks, cleanings and general dental care all happen at our office on S. Western Ave., so your care stays coordinated.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions Los Angeles patients ask about wearing and caring for retainers.
Your teeth may gradually shift back toward their original positions. How quickly this happens varies; some people notice changes within weeks, others over years. If you've stopped wearing it, contact us soon, since minor shifting is often easier to correct than major relapse.
Rinse a removable retainer whenever you take it out, and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and cool or lukewarm water, since hot water can warp the plastic. Skip abrasive toothpaste, which can scratch and cloud it. For a bonded retainer, floss under the wire daily using a floss threader or similar tool.
It depends on your case. A bonded retainer works around the clock, which helps if consistency is a concern, but it requires careful flossing. A removable retainer is easy to clean but only works when worn. Dr. Nourian will recommend one, or both, based on how your teeth moved.
Call our office as soon as you can, since teeth can begin shifting without a retainer. Don't force a retainer that feels too tight or is cracked. Dr. Nourian will check your teeth and arrange a replacement, or recommend limited treatment first if they have moved.
Finishing treatment, or need a retainer replaced? Call Trusted Dental & Orthodontics or request an appointment, and we'll help keep your smile on track.