Permanent Retainers In Washington
Safeguarding your radiant new smile for life requires wearing a retainer. A permanent retainer may benefit a small handful of patients who need a more immersive retention experience.
To find out whether a permanent retainer is right for you, schedule your consultation with us today!
Benefits Of Permanent Retainers
Your teeth naturally shift over time due to a process called mesial drift. This means that without a retainer, your brand-new smile may shift out of its position. A retainer will hold your teeth in the right position so that your new smile alignment stays in place.
A permanent retainer, otherwise known as a bonded retainer or wire retainer, is affixed to the back of the bottom front teeth. They are usually used in addition to removable retainers to keep your upper and lower teeth in the desired position. We prefer removable retainers over bonded retainers.
Lund Orthodontics offers many different retainer options. Because permanent retainers are not always a great option for many different clinical reasons, we usually recommend removable retainers. While we rarely advocate for permanent retainers, there are certain circumstances where they may be the ideal choice for your alignment.
Some benefits of permanent retainers include:
- Constant retention
- Decreased chance of relapse
- Sleek and comfortable design.
What Should You Do If Your Bonded Retainer Breaks?
Permanent retainers are a sturdy orthodontic appliance, but they are still vulnerable to damage. Carefully watching your diet and avoiding hard or sticky foods will help keep your permanent retainer in great shape.
However, accidents happen, and your retainer may break. A broken permanent retainer can increase the risk of a smile relapse, so schedule an appointment with us so we can fix it as soon as possible. You don’t want your hard-earned results to go to waste!
Do not attempt to fix or fiddle with your broken permanent retainer. Bending or further adjusting the broken wire may cause further damage to your retainer, gums, and teeth. Try to let the broken retainer stay against your bottom teeth if possible, and contact us immediately to fix the problem.
Permanent Retainer Cost
Lund Orthodontics wants you to enjoy the perks of a healthy smile without breaking the bank. Whether you have metal braces, clear braces, self-ligating braces, or Invisalign, permanent retainer costs are included in your treatment plan.
If your bonded retainer is broken and requires repair, patients will have to pay out of pocket for a replacement. If you have any questions about permanent retainer costs, feel free to contact us. Our team is happy to assist you!
How Do I Care For My Permanent Retainer?
Permanent retainers are a virtually invisible retention option, but their placement requires extra care and cleaning. Since wire retainers are located close to the saliva duct underneath the tongue, the risk of plaque and tartar buildup increases. Those with bonded retainers will need to follow a more intensive cleaning process, or they risk developing future dental issues or tooth decay.
The good news is that following some simple steps can help ensure a healthy smile with your permanent retainer. Here’s how to take excellent care of your teeth with a bonded retainer:
How To Brush Your Teeth With A Permanent Retainer
Brushing your teeth with a permanent retainer is similar to your normal brushing routine. While you are brushing your lower teeth, make sure that you use the bristles to gently brush around and between the wire. Be sure to also focus on the area where the wire is bonded to the teeth.
How To Floss Your Teeth With A Permanent Retainer
Flossing is a little bit more difficult with a permanent retainer. To make the process easier, you can get a floss threader tool to help you get into the tough-to-reach areas. While you don’t need this tool, it can make flossing with a bonded retainer a much easier task.
Get about 6 inches of floss and thread it into the floss threader. Using the threader tool, bring the floss beneath the retainer wire. Gently move the floss up and down to get rid of trapped food particles and debris. Rinse your mouth out, and then you’re done!
While permanent retainers are generally quite durable, it’s important to avoid hard or sticky foods. These can damage the wire or the bonding that anchors the wire to the teeth. Since permanent retainer repairs aren’t included in your treatment plan, adjusting your diet is necessary to keep the appliance in good shape for years to come.
Digital Retention Program
If you’ve been dedicated to your dental hygiene during treatment, you have the option of joining our Digital Retention Program! For an additional $680, we take a digital scan of your teeth and make 3 sets of upper and lower overlay retainers.
Since replacing your retainers can run you up to $199 per retainer, investing in this program guarantees value and ease when you need new ones!
Some benefits of the Digital Retention program include:
- No goopy, awkward impressions
- No need for follow-up retention appointments.
- Easy, straightforward retainer replacements
- Interest-free, flexible payment plans
- Digital scans are good for 7 years post-treatment
Retain Your Beautiful Smile With The Retainer Experts At Lund Orthodontics
The day your braces come off is a very exciting day, but the job isn’t quite over yet! Wearing a retainer is the key to achieving long-lasting smile results. A permanent retainer is generally not our first choice for retention. But, with proper care and cleaning, a permanent retainer can be a great asset for select patients.
Our Lund Orthodontics superstars are excited to help you achieve the smile you’ve been dreaming about. It’s never too late to start your smile journey! Call us, text us, or schedule an exam online with us today!
