How Does Dr. Saxe Take Your Braces Off?
- Taking off your braces is easier and faster than you'd think. When your braces are ready to be removed, your dentist or orthodontist will clip the curve on the back of the braces with a special plier. This breaks the adhesive bond between the bracket and your tooth. While it does make a loud clipping sound, it doesn't really hurt.
Retainers
- You have just spent several months or years, and a great deal of money and inconvenience, to have your bite corrected and your teeth straightened. Now the braces are gone! But you're not really done. You must wear a retainer to help keep your teeth in their new positions. It is very important to wear your retainer exactly as your orthodontist tells you, especially during the first year after your braces come off. This is because it takes about 9 months for your periodontal ligaments to "remember" their new positions. If you don't wear your retainer regularly, your teeth will shift! After the first year, many people wear their retainers at night, several nights per week, to ensure that their new smiles continue to look great.
There are three basic types of retainers:
- "Hawley" retainers. These are made of acrylic that is molded to your mouth, and contain a wire to hold your teeth in position (this is the most common type of retainer). The acrylic part is available in clear, and in a variety of colors and interesting designs, so you can "personalize" your retainer if you wish.
- "Essix" retainers made of clear plastic (similar to the Invisalign aligner trays or whitening trays). Some people love these, while others feel that they are too uncomfortable.
- Permanent retainers, which are glued to the back of your teeth and are not removed.
WARNING: Poor Oral hygiene results in white scars on the surfaces of teeth and cavities.
It is up to (not your Mom, Dad, Grandparents, babysitter, siblings, best friend or pet)
to care for your beautiful teeth.
