We know you’re eager to show off your new smile (hooray!) but your orthodontic treatment isn’t complete until you finish wearing your retainer.
What is a retainer?
Retainers keep the new position of your teeth after orthodontic treatment. They can be fixed or removable. Sometimes Dr. Irene hears her patients misusing the term ‘retainer’ to describe a type of treatment they have had. Active orthodontic treatment may involve braces, Invisalign, or other appliances that may resemble retainers, but unlike retainers, they are used to apply active forces to move your teeth into a new position. In most cases, retainers are given when orthodontic treatment is finished. If a patient is wearing a retainer, they are no longer considered to be in treatment but are in the retention stage.
