How to Wear Retainers After Orthodontic Aligner Treatment
- First month: Please wear retainers for 16-18 hours a day.
- Second month: Please wear retainers for 14-16 hours a day.
- Third month: Please wear retainers for 12-14 hours a day.
- Fourth month: Please wear retainers for 10-12 hours a day, or when sleeping.
(Continue wearing at night to ensure your teeth do not relapse.)
Every patient’s bone reacts differently. If you feel any teeth shifting or tightness when wearing the retainers, please increase retainer wear time one to two hours per day.
It is very important that you follow these instructions. Failure to do so may result in relapse and misalignment of teeth, negating any guarantee previously made.
Your retainer has a ONE YEAR WARRANTY. Warranty replacement WILL ONLY COVER your retainer if it is due to breakage or cracking. Warranty replacement DOES NOT COVER lost or damaged retainers.
Your retainers* should be cleaned with toothbrush and toothpaste after each use and stored inverted with a small amount of water when not being worn. The best deep cleaning method is to soak in warm water with a denture tablet (found at any pharmacy) once per week to keep them free of excessive plaque buildup.
*If you have Invisalign® Vivera® retainers, you will start with set number one and wear those retainers until they are no longer viable, unable to be cleaned or too loose to wear. Then, you will transition to set number two and so on. The four sets of retainers should last you over a period of a several years if maintained properly.
*If you have ClearCorrect retainers, you will receive two new sets of retainers each year for four years following the end of your treatment.
As always, if there are any questions regarding retainer wear/care in San Diego, California, do not hesitate to call Coastal Dental Arts at 619-858-8080 and speak with our dentists. Dr. David Chotiner and our entire team want you to keep your new smile and are happy to answer any questions you have.