Iowa City Orthodontics

Orthodontist (Braces/Dentistry)

Retainer Care

  1. You are instructed to wear your retainer full time when the braces are removed which means 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. After a few months time you will likely be instructed to wear it nights only.
  2. Don’t fold it in your napkin or leave it on the table at a restaurant. Garbage cans don’t make happy hunting grounds.
  3. Don’t put your retainer in your pocket. You might sit on it and break it. OUCH!
  4. Take your retainer out when swimming in a lake or ocean. If it falls out, you may not be able to find it. Wearing it in a swimming pool is OK.
  5. Animals and younger children love to play with it. Please make sure your retainer is in your mouth at all times. Your retainer should only be out of your mouth when brushing.
  1. Your lower retainer may be a fixed retainer bonded onto your teeth. It is not considered permanent and can be broken or detached from your teeth if you are not careful with it.
  2. Bring your retainers to your check-up appointment. If anything happens to your retainers (i.e. it doesn’t fit, it’s broken, or it’s lost) please call us ASAP. If your lower bonded retainer wire comes out, keep it and bring it in at your next appointment for rebonding.
  3. The first set of retainers is included in your treatment fee. Any repair, replacement of your retainer, or rebonding of your lower retainer may be additional and charged to your account.
  4. Keep things clean! Be sure to brush your teeth after removing the retainer. Do not boil your retainer or put it in hot water. Brush your retainer with a toothbrush using toothpaste and cold water.

Removable Appliances

A removable appliance is carefully designed to move or hold your teeth. It is important that it is worn according to instructions and brought to each appointment. Wear your appliance at all times, even while you are asleep. It may be removed while swimming or playing vigorous sports activities. In two to three days your speech will return to normal with the appliance in place. Avoid flipping your appliance with your tongue, this can cause damage to your teeth or breakage of your appliance.

Your new appliance may make your teeth sore for a day or two, especially after an adjustment. If you have a sore spot on your gums call our office so that we can arrange to adjust the appliance.

Clean your appliance by brushing it daily with toothpaste. Denture cleaner can also be used for a more thorough cleaning. Never wrap your appliance in a paper napkin or tissue and set it down on the table. You or someone else may throw it away. Don’t put it in your pocket when playing or you may break or lose it. It should be in its plastic appliance case whenever it is not in your mouth.

Keep your appliance away from dogs or cats. They love to chew on them. Avoid storing them near any source of heat. Do not boil your retainer to sterilize it! If needed, bring it to the office and we will be happy to disinfect it for you. Do not soak your retainer in mouthwash. An additional charge will be incurred for lost or broken appliances. Please bring your appliances to all appointments.