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Most patients need to undergo a period of wearing an orthodontic retainer following the end of their sessions with braces to keep the new position of their teeth and prevent the alignment from shifting back to a poor bite. Orthodontic retainers hold the teeth while the periodontal ligaments and jaw become stable. Our team offers insight into caring for a retainer to maintain its quality and prevent any damage that could prolong your orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontic retainers aren’t always permanent dental fixtures like braces are, but they require a lot of time in your smile to produce results, and during this time you need to provide proper care so that they don’t become broken or become bent and need to be worn longer than previously determined by the orthodontist.

Dr. John R. Schouten offers custom Hawley retainers made from high-quality acrylic with interlocking wires to keep them secure in your smile, though they can be removed for mealtimes and cleaning. If you aren’t wearing your retainer or cleaning it, keep it in its case so that it isn’t misplaced or broken. Bring your case when you leave the house so that it’s alway on hand if needed. Twice a day, gently brush the retainer with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to clean away plaque that could otherwise transfer to your teeth and cause tooth decay.

If you are unsure about taking proper care of an orthodontic retainer in Evanston, Wyoming, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. John R. Schouten by contacting Uinta Orthodontics at (307) 789-8742.