Protect Your Smile With Orthodontic Retainers in Western Washington
Lund Orthodontics provides custom retainers for children, teens, and adults throughout Western Washington, with offices in Kirkland, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, and Arlington. Our board-certified orthodontists help patients protect their results with removable and permanent retainer options selected around their individual needs. Whether you just finished treatment or need to replace a lost, damaged, or worn retainer, our team can evaluate your smile and recommend the right next step.
What Is an Orthodontic Retainer?
An orthodontic retainer is a custom appliance designed to hold your teeth in their corrected positions after braces or clear aligner treatment. Teeth can naturally shift over time, so retention becomes an important part of maintaining your alignment once active treatment ends.
Depending on your needs, a retainer may be removable or permanently bonded behind your teeth. Lund Orthodontics offers different retainer designs so you can find the perfect fit for your unique smile and retention needs. Your orthodontist will explain how your retainer works, how often to wear it, and how to care for it as part of your long-term retention plan.
Benefits of Retainers
Here’s how consistent retainer wear can help you immediately following orthodontic treatment and down the road:
Maintain Your New Alignment
Teeth have a natural tendency to move over time. A properly fitted retainer helps hold them in their corrected positions after active orthodontic treatment ends. Following your orthodontist’s recommended wear schedule gives your smile ongoing support and helps preserve the alignment achieved through braces or clear aligners.
Reduce the Risk of Orthodontic Relapse
Orthodontic relapse occurs when teeth begin to move back into their previous positions. Wearing your retainer as directed helps reduce this unwanted shifting. Retention is a long-term part of orthodontic care, so continuing to use your retainer as recommended can help safeguard the results you worked hard to achieve.
Who Needs Orthodontic Retainers?
Children, teens, and adults who complete orthodontic treatment typically move into a retention phase to help maintain their corrected tooth positions. Retainers may also be important for people who notice their teeth beginning to shift or who have experienced orthodontic relapse after previous treatment to help prevent additional movement.
You may need an evaluation if your current retainer no longer fits correctly, becomes lost or damaged, or shows signs of wear. Going without a prescribed retainer can give teeth an opportunity to move, so Lund Orthodontics recommends contacting the office promptly when there is a problem with your appliance.
Patients who received orthodontic treatment elsewhere may also need guidance from an orthodontist when replacing or updating a retainer. Because every smile and treatment history is different, an orthodontic evaluation is the best way to determine which type of retainer is appropriate and whether any tooth movement needs to be addressed first.
Types of Retainers We Offer
Lund Orthodontics offers removable and permanent retainers to support different clinical and lifestyle needs. Your orthodontist will recommend an option based on your teeth, previous treatment, oral hygiene, and long-term retention needs.
Overlay Retainers
Overlay retainers are another type of removable option we offer. Different from the Hawley acrylic and metal design, an overlay retainer is a clear, form-fitted appliance that fits directly over the teeth. Lund Orthodontics also uses digital scanning in our retention program, which can make creating qualifying replacement overlay retainers simpler without relying on traditional impressions.
Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers are removable appliances that traditionally combine a durable acrylic base with a wire that sits across the teeth. Because the appliance can be taken out, patients can remove it for eating and oral hygiene while following the wear schedule recommended by their orthodontist.
Permanent Retainers
Permanent retainers, also called bonded or wire retainers, are attached behind the teeth to provide continuous retention. At Lund Orthodontics, we typically provide removable retainers because permanent options are not appropriate for every patient. In select cases, however, a bonded retainer may be recommended based on clinical needs and can be used alongside removable retention.
Getting Your Orthodontic Retainers: What To Expect
Your orthodontist begins by evaluating your current tooth alignment, treatment history, and retention needs. If you have an existing retainer, bring it with you so the team can assess its fit and condition. This evaluation helps determine whether a removable or permanent option is appropriate for your smile.
Retention continues after you receive your appliance. Bring your retainer to scheduled retainer checks when requested, and contact Lund Orthodontics promptly if it is lost, broken, or stops fitting properly. Addressing problems quickly can reduce the amount of time your teeth spend without appropriate retention.
From clear explanations to personalized treatment, patients trust Lund Orthodontics to help them care for their smiles during treatment and beyond.
The Cost of Orthodontic Retainers
Retainer costs depend on the appliance and whether you need a new, replacement, or repaired retainer. Lund Orthodontics offers removable overlay retainers ranging from $199–$596 and Hawley retainers ranging from $299–$598. Permanent retainers are also available when clinically appropriate; ask our team about costs for your specific situation.
Digital Retention Program
If you prioritize your dental hygiene during treatment, we offer the option of joining our Digital Retention Program. Investing in this program only costs $680 for a digital scan of your teeth and three sets of overlay retainers.
Here are some of the benefits of the Digital Retention Program:
- No goopy, messy impressions
- No additional retainer check-in appointments
- Quick and easy retainer replacements
- Interest-free, flexible payment plans
Keep Your Smile for Life With Retainers at Lund Orthodontics
Your orthodontic treatment may be finished, but protecting your results is an ongoing commitment. Lund Orthodontics provides custom retainers and professional guidance to help patients throughout Western Washington maintain the smiles they worked hard to achieve. We will give you all the information you need to succeed with your retainer, and be sure to bring your retainers with you to all of your retainer check appointments.
Whether you need your first post-treatment retainer, a replacement appliance, or an evaluation because your teeth have started shifting, our board-certified orthodontists can help you understand the next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Retainers
How long do I need to wear my retainer?
Your retainer wear schedule depends on your individual treatment and retention needs. Lund Orthodontics will explain when and how often you should wear your appliance. Because teeth naturally change position over time, following those instructions consistently is important for maintaining the alignment achieved through orthodontic treatment.
What happens if I stop wearing my retainer?
Going without your retainer can allow your teeth to shift from their corrected positions. The amount of movement can vary from person to person. If you have stopped wearing your retainer and notice changes in your smile, schedule an evaluation rather than trying to force a retainer that no longer fits.
What should I do if my retainer is lost or broken?
Contact Lund Orthodontics as soon as possible if your retainer is lost, broken, or damaged. Time without appropriate retention may allow your teeth to shift. Do not attempt to repair a broken permanent retainer yourself. The team can evaluate the problem and recommend the appropriate repair or replacement.
How do I clean a removable retainer?
Clean your retainer consistently according to the instructions Lund Orthodontics provides. Keep it in its protective case whenever you remove it, and avoid exposing it to hot water or heat that could warp the material. Do not use bleach, alcohol, or other harsh chemical cleaners that could damage the appliance.
What is the difference between Hawley and overlay retainers?
Both are removable retainers, but their designs differ. Hawley retainers traditionally use an acrylic base and wire, while overlay retainers fit over the teeth. Lund Orthodontics offers both options. Your orthodontist can recommend a retainer based on your alignment, treatment history, oral hygiene, and other individual considerations.
Does Lund Orthodontics offer permanent retainers?
Yes. Lund Orthodontics offers permanent retainers for select patients, although the practice generally prefers removable retention because bonded retainers are not appropriate for every situation. A permanent retainer attaches behind the teeth and provides continuous retention. Your orthodontist can determine whether that approach makes sense for your smile.