Retainer Instructions

Upper Retainer

Your upper retainer is a removable appliance designed to maintain your teeth in their corrected position. Please follow these Wear and Care Instructions carefully.

Wear
The upper retainer should be worn as directed by Dr. Bisbas. Always remove it when brushing your teeth.
The retainer’s plastic taste will disappear quickly, and your speech will return to normal after a few days of wearing the retainer. Remember the more you wear your retainer, the better you’ll sound.
Soreness will leave in a few days, even after an adjustment. If you have a localized sore spot after 3-4 days, call our office for an appointment.
Don’t flip the retainer with your tongue. This could damage your teeth.

Care
Clean the retainer by brushing it with soap and water and occasionally clean it with denture cleanser, using warm (not hot) water.
If you drop your retainer on the floor, or want to clean it thoroughly after being sick, all you need is to soak your retainer in a glass of Listerine.
Handle it with care – When you are not wearing your retainer, you must keep it in your case. Do not put it on your lunch tray at school, do not put it in your pocket or purse, and do not leave it on your counter at home.
Keep your retainer away from pets, they love to chew them.
Keeping your retainer in the case will eliminate chances of you throwing it away or breaking it. Remember it is very expensive to replace your retainer.
Bring your retainer to each appointment.

Lower Retainer

Your lower retainer is a fixed or removable appliance designed to maintain your teeth in their corrected position. If your retainer is removable, follow the same instructions as outlined for the upper retainer. If fixed, a wire is attached to the inside of your lower front teeth. It requires special attention.

Wear
A fixed retainer will remain in your mouth permanently or until your doctor approves its removal.

Care
When brushing be extra careful to clean the wire and the inside of your lower teeth. Floss daily and use a floss threader between the wire and the gums.

It is your job to keep your teeth and retainer spotlessly clean!

Remember:
Wear your retainer as directed. If you do play a high contact sport, wear your mouth guard accordingly without your retainer. With high contact sports your retainer might break. Check with Dr. Bisbas regarding wear during sports participation.
Keep your retainer clean. Brush it with soap and water or clean it with denture cleaner using warm(not hot) water.
Handle your retainer with care. Keep it away from pets (they love to chew on retainers) and heat (car dashboards, washing machines, hot water, etc.).
If you take it out of your mouth for any reason put it in its plastic case.
If there is an accident and your retainer is lost or broken call the office immediately! Dr. Bisbas needs to see you as soon as possible to fix or replace your retainer. If you do break your retainer do not try to fix it.

If the retainer is lost or broken there will be a replacement or repair charge.