Download February 14, 1997

Your Health. Your Smile. Your Orthodontist.
RETAINER INSTRUCTIONS
Congratulations! You have completed the active phase of your orthodontic treatment. The retainer phase is
just as important as the period of wearing braces. The purpose of wearing retainers is to hold your teeth in
their new positions while the bones, gums and muscles adapt to the new arrangement. If you don’t wear or
take care of your retainers as instructed, your teeth will move back rapidly to their original positions. You must
play an active role in maintaining your orthodontic correction. The following instructions will help.
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Wear your retainers full time until the doctors instruct otherwise. Take your retainer out very
carefully by easing it out on both sides. Do not pull hard on one side as this can cause it to crack or
break. Do not play with your retainer with your tongue or fingers.
Always bring your retainers to your appointments. We will check your retainers in increments of 3
months, 6 months, and a final appointment in two years. It is extremely important to stay on this
schedule.
Take your retainers out when eating and always put retainers in their case. Most appliances are lost in
school cafeterias or restaurants!
Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Brushing retainers removes
the plaque and eliminates odors. Orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, such as Retainer Brite or
Aqua Blast, but do not take the place of brushing. Never boil your retainer.
When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on
them and they are easily broken if put in your pocket without the case!
Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading or singing out loud to get used to
them faster.
If you have any questions or concerns or your retainers need to be adjusted, call our office. Do not try
to adjust them yourself!
Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, the washing machine and napkins.
If relapse occurs due to lack of patient cooperation, there will be an additional fee if braces need to be
placed and/or a replacement retainer is recommended.
Your treatment fee includes two years of retainer visits and monitoring. After that there will be a $95
office visit fee for retainer checks plus any additional fees for repair or replacement.
Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken, call our office
immediately. Retainer replacement is expensive. With proper care they will last for years! Our policy
for lost or broken retainers is as follows:
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Broken lingual (bonded) retainer. Guaranteed for two months (typically, if a lingual retainer is
faulty it will become loose within the first few days). After that there is a fee of $95 to repair or
$135 to replace.
Broken clear retainer. Guaranteed for the first three months. After that there is a $100
replacement fee. If the patient is grinding through it, we need to consider a night guard.
Broken Hawley retainer. Guaranteed for two years (normal wear and tear). After that there is a
$250 replacement fee.
We cannot guarantee lost retainers or retainers that have been broken due to being stepped on,
sat on, crushed, ran over with a vehicle or chewed by patients, pets or siblings.
Michael A. Webb, DDS, MS
Colin M. Webb, DDS, MS
2915 Coltsgate Road ° Suite 102 ° Charlotte, NC 28211 ° Phone (704) 364-7343 ° Fax (704) 364-2729
www.webb-orthodontics.com