Retainer Instructions
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- Wear your retainer 24 hours a day for the first month. This is a must! After the first month, you can wear your retainer at night only.
- Take your retainer out only when you eat and brush your teeth.
- Clean your retainer every time you brush your teeth (with mild hand soap). Please clean your retainer with Efferdent or Polident tablets every 3-5 days. The tablets can be purchased at any drugstore.
- Never wrap your retainer in a kleenex or serviette or put it in your pocket. No one looks in a kleenex or lunch bag and it will get thrown away. Always use the retainer case when it’s not in your mouth.
- If you damage your retainer, please call our office and bring it in. We may be able to repair it. Never try to repair your retainer yourself.
- There is a $150 charge to all patients to replace a lost retainer.
- If there is a problem, please give us a call. Do not just stop wearing your retainer.
- Bring your retainer to every appointment.
- Remove retainers when swimming.
- Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.
At the time of your retention records, your wisdom teeth will be assessed to see if removal is necessary.
Your retainer is for life! If you want your teeth to remain straight, you need to wear your retainer every night.