Hi, its Alistair King here from Central Coast Orthodontics. We just had one of our patients, Samantha, from Tuggerah complete her Invisalign treatment, and she loves her new smile! To make sure her smile remains in place, we are now organising her retainer for her. We had a discussion about the different types of retainers and what would suit her best. So I thought I’ll make this video sharing with you what I discussed with her to help you understand this very important part of orthodontic treatment.

Retainers are simply orthodontic appliances designed to hold your teeth in a certain position. They are usually given to you after your treatment is complete to maintain the result you have worked so hard to achieve. As teeth have a natural tendency to want to move around gradually over time, it is important that you look after your retainer so that your teeth stay straight for a long time!

Retainers have been used for years, and over time have been improved and refined so that they are less intrusive but just as effective. A generation ago, retainers were almost always removable plates, which were meant to be worn full time after you had finished treatment for a period of time, then night time after that. However, these days, a popular option is to have a small wire bonded to the back of your front teeth, where it is hidden out of sight. This can make it easier to manage as you don’t have to remind yourself to put the plate in all the time, and there is no risk of losing it at school or work. Sometimes, these wires are also given with a night-time plate, which you just wear to bed.

It is possible to still hold teeth straight without a fixed wire, it just means you need to be really good at remembering to wear your retainer properly. Dr Deall and I can always give you some guidance if you are unsure what will suit you best.

Whatever choice you make, we will be here to help you along the way make sure you get a result that lasts! We normally get you back into the clinic to check your retainers and your teeth for a few years after your treatment is finished. It’s always a great opportunity to catch up with patients and their families we have treated too, and hear about what they have been up to since we last saw them and that’s one of the most enjoyable parts of our job.

So I hope you found this video useful. If you or your child do have crooked teeth, and want to do something about them, we would love to help. We are available in both Gosford and Erina. Simply give us a call, complete the enquiry form on the website, or send us a direct message on social media, and we will help you organise the appointment that is closest to you. See you in the next video!

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