Bonded Retainer

Lompoc (805) 736-3486

Solvang (805) 688-1862

Santa Barbara (805)965-4915

Retainers

Clear Aligner

Hawley Retainer

Retainers Prevent Your Teeth From Becoming Crooked Again - https://vimeo.com/40747990

Please wear your retainer full time until otherwise instructed by Dr. Harper. Please wear your retainer all the time except while eating, brushing, or flossing.

Do Not:
    Do not place your retainer in boiling water or leave it in hot areas. Retainers can warp and will need to be replaced.
    Do not bite your retainer into place. Gently put it into the proper position using your fingers.
    Do not play with your retainer with your tongue. It’ll cause the wires to be pushed out of place.
Do
    Brush your retainer when you brush your teeth to help eliminate plaque and bacteria
    Soak your retainer in a denture cleaner such as Polident or Efferedent (DO NOT DRINK)
    You can use mouthwash to help mask the plastic taste when you first get your retainer.
If you participate in sports or activities in which your retainer can be lost or broken, do not wear it. Remove it while swimming, skiing or participating in contact sports. If for some special reason (like singing in the choir or giving a speech), you leave your retainer out of your mouth, be sure to place it back in its case. It is very easy to lose a retainer that has been wrapped in a napkin or placed in a pocket. If you forget to wear your retainer, push the retainer into place using your fingers and wear full-time until they feel comfortable again and the teeth realign. If they do not, call the office immediately.

Your initial retainers are included in the treatment fee. If you lose or break your retainer, call immediately to set an appointment for an impression so a new retainer can be made. This will enable us to replace your retainers before your teeth have time to shift.If a retainer is lost or broken due to patient neglect, there will be a replacement fee or repair fee.​

Bonded Retainers

Please brush your bonded retainer when you brush your teeth. Special attention should be given to the gum line area. As with your braces, debris and plaque can accumulate between the bonding material and the gum line. Place the toothbrush at a 45° angle along the gum line and rotate the bristles so they massage the gum tissue during brushing.Flossing between your teeth is also very important. We recommend that you floss at least once a day. Using a bridge threader, place the floss between your teeth using caution not to tug at the floss because you might loosen the bonded retainer. If at any time you are unsure hot to floss, please contact the office so that we can review flossing instructions. Although the bonded retainer is not a permanent retainer, it may stay placed for several years depending on the individual situation. The duration of wear will be determined by you and Dr. Harper. The first time your bonded retainer comes loose, it will be repaired at no charge. Additional repairs will result in additional fees. 

Your retainer may come loose from biting on hard foods. Please avoid:Carrots, apples, chewing gum    and  chewy breads such as bagels, pizza crust, and breadsticks.
You will also want to avoid biting on objects such as pencils, pens, paper clips, and bobby pins.
If you notice that some of the bonding material has come loose or the wire is not attached to the tooth, please call the office immediately. If you have a removable retainer as well, please wear this retainer until you have your bonded retainer repaired.