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RETENTION INSTRUCTIONS
Now that your teeth are straight, it is important to understand that they will only stay straight for life if you
wear your retainers as advised by Premier Orthodontics. Protecting your orthodontic investment is in your
hands to keep your smile beautiful.
Long-term Expectations
The fact is that throughout your lifetime, even though you have had orthodontic treatment, you can expect changes
in tooth position. Many factors may cause teeth to shift. Such changes vary from individual to individual and most
of the time they are hardly noticeable. But on occasion changes occur that are disappointing to both the patient and
the orthodontist. Changes in tooth position are not a failure of your orthodontic treatment but are a natural
process. We expect changes in our bodies as we grow older, and teeth are no exception. To help control and limit
these changes, retainers are prescribed after your braces are removed.
What is a retainer and how important is it that I wear it?
Retainers are designed to hold your teeth in their corrected positions after the braces have been taken off and can
either be removable or fixed to the teeth. Retainers need to be worn on a long-term basis because changes can
occur throughout your lifetime. They are used for two reasons: first, to allow bone to rebuild after your teeth have
moved and prevent the fibres between the teeth from twisting them back to where they started, and second, to
keep individual teeth from drifting. Teeth are not set in concrete, but in bone. And because bone around your teeth
is continually changing (breaking down and rebuilding), your teeth may shift throughout life after your braces are
removed. Changes in tooth position are a lifelong and naturally occurring phenomenon. By wearing your retainers,
your teeth are more likely to remain where we placed them.
How long will I have to wear the retainers?
 We advise that you wear the removable retainers full time (day and night) for the first week.
 Take them out for eating, drinking (except water), cleaning, playing contact sports or swimming.
 After the first week, wear the removable retainers every evening and at night (10 to 12 hours).
 After the first year, if your removable retainers fit with minimal pressure (provided they are fitting perfectly),
you can reduce the wear to alternate nights only on a life-long basis.
 Make sure to increase the hours of wear if the retainers feel tight, as that means that teeth are still moving.
 It is likely that once you stop wearing your retainer, your teeth will move. This is a natural process that
occurs throughout life and is particularly common with the lower front teeth, gaps and any teeth that were
severely twisted before treatment. Therefore, if you want your teeth to stay straight, the only way is to
wear your retainers nightly for the rest of your life.
 Excessive wear on the retainer surfaces may suggest tooth grinding at night – consider wearing them 10-12
hours during the daytime instead of night time to make your retainers last longer.
 Having a fixed retainer bonded indefinitely to the back of the teeth is an extra security, but it can still break
without you noticing and the teeth will start moving. Therefore, it is important to use a removable retainer on
top of your fixed one on alternate nights.
How often will I now need an appointment?
We normally check your retainers after 2 months of taking the brace off to make sure the result is stable, and then
at 12 months to discuss on-going retention. You need to bring your retainers with you to these review
appointments. Any extra review appointments will be charged. If you want to continue seeing us beyond the 12
months post-treatment care period, we are happy to arrange for this.
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Will growing wisdom teeth cause teeth to shift?
Research suggests that wisdom teeth do not cause teeth to shift. In most cases, removal of wisdom teeth is done
for general dental health reasons rather than for orthodontic health.
What do I do if my retainers are lost, broken or stop fitting perfectly?
Ring up for an appointment as soon as is reasonably possible. Do not wait for your next routine appointment as your
teeth may move whilst not wearing your retainers.
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If the retainers are lost or broken, you must replace them urgently. There will be a charge for new ones.
If the retainers stop fitting perfectly, you must have them checked urgently as they will not hold the teeth
correctly. This is either due to lack of wear for long enough periods or unexpected tooth movement. The
retainers may need to be replaced or repaired. There will be a charge for repairs or replacement of removable
retainers.
If you have a fixed wire retainer behind your teeth, this will be left indefinitely, but you must check it daily and
inform us immediately if it is broken or loose. In this case, please wear your removable retainer full time until
the wire retainer has been repaired. There will be a charge for repairs or replacement fixed retainers.
The removable retainers may eventually wear out and you will need replacement retainers. Please contact us
and we can arrange for new ones at an additional charge.
How do I care for my retainers?
 To clean removable retainers, remove them and scrub them inside and out with a soft brush and COLD water or
diluted mouthwash. Then rinse in cold water. DO NOT USE hot water or toothpaste as this will damage
them. It is useful to clean your retainer regularly using a cleansing agent such as Retainer Brite. Use lukewarm
water (NOT HOT) to dissolve the tablets.
 Keep your retainers in a protective hard box when not wearing them.
 Do not click the brace in and out with your tongue as this can cause breakages.
 If you are wearing a fixed retainer then you will need to take extra care to keep it clean using a small soft brush
head, superfloss and daily Fluoride mouthrinse. Seeing your hygienist regularly is also important.
Why not a spare set?
It is always a good idea to have a spare set of removable retainers made when your teeth are perfectly aligned, just
in case you should lose or break your retainers whilst on holiday or another time when it would be difficult to come
back in to see us. We can arrange for this at an additional charge.
If you play contact sports, now also is a good time to obtain a new mouth guard to protect your new smile.
Now it’s your responsibility…
The fact is that you are the person in charge of keeping your teeth straight. It is your responsibility to keep that
beautiful smile. How do you do this? By wearing your retainers as instructed above, by checking them regularly and
letting us know immediately if you have any concerns, especially if they are lost, broken, stop fitting perfectly or
show signs of wear.
Your teeth are now straight and you are happy with the result. We provided you with good fitting retainers and
advised you how to wear them and take care of them, Premier Orthodontics are not responsible for any adverse
tooth movement, relapse or for the stability of the orthodontic result.
In case of failure to follow these instructions, then your teeth will move and will not be ideally aligned. In case of
relapse, further orthodontic treatment will be required using aligners or fixed braces to straighten the teeth again.
This is a new treatment course and additional charges will apply. If you notice any unwanted change, contact us for
information.
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RETENTION CONSENT (Patient Copy)
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I understand the instructions given to me regarding my retainers.
I agree to follow these instructions and wear my retainers as prescribed by Premier Orthodontics.
I understand that keeping my teeth straight is now my responsibility and Premier Orthodontics is
not responsible for any adverse tooth movement, relapse or for the stability of the orthodontic
result.
PATIENT NAME
_____________________________
DOB
_____________________________
DATE
_____________________________
PATIENT SIGNATURE
_____________________________
PARENT NAME
_____________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE (IF UNDER 16) _____________________

It would be useful to other patients if you could spare a few minutes to write about your
experience of orthodontic treatment.
You can do this in several ways:
1) Our testimonial sheet that the receptionist will offer to you, to be used in our book in the waiting
room or published online
2) A video testimonial to publish online.
3) Join our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Premierortho
4) Follow us on Twitter@ twitter.com/yaznafa
5) Post a comment on our forum in the member’s section of www.premierorthodontics.co.uk
Thank you …
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RETENTION CONSENT (Practice Copy)


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I understand the instructions given to me regarding my retainers.
I agree to follow these instructions and wear my retainers as prescribed by Premier Orthodontics.
I understand that keeping my teeth straight is now my responsibility. Premier Orthodontics is not
responsible for any adverse tooth movement, relapse or for the stability of the orthodontic result.
PATIENT NAME
_____________________________
DOB
_____________________________
DATE
_____________________________
PATIENT SIGNATURE
_____________________________
PARENT NAME
_____________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE (IF UNDER 16) _____________________
PHOTOGRAPHY CONSENT
I ……………………………………………………………consent to the use of my clinical photographs for
presentations for educational or marketing purposes, patient information leaflets, waiting room display
book or screen or to be published on Premier Orthodontics’ website.
Both
Facial only
Teeth only
Signed ………………………………………………………..
(Parent/Guardian if under 16)
Print name …………………………………………………….
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