Retainers

With the recent outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), dental and orthodontic offices around the nation are closing due to recommendations by the American Dental Association. While offices remain open for emergency care, many people have questions about how to manage their ongoing orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign. Here are a few guidelines to help you out : )

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

• Wash your hands very often!
  • Orthodontic treatment involves putting your hands in your mouth. Whether you are placing rubber bands, wax, retainers, or an Invisalign clear aligner, you need to put your hands in your mouth. You should be washing your hands for at least 20 seconds BEFORE AND AFTER putting your hands in your mouth. Additionally, you should be washing your hands, in general, more often.
• If you can't wash your hands, use hand sanitizer
  • If soap and water are not available, be sure you use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. Rub all surfaces of your hands well.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay at home and follow the CDC guidelines for social distancing
  • The illness is spread by close contact with other people or via droplets in the air. Please do not use this time away from work or school to spend time with friends and family. Many people who have the virus do not know it!
• If you are getting sick, contact your medical health care provider for help.
  • If you are sick, first and foremost, stay away from others so you do not spread the illness to them. Contact your medical professional for advice on what to do next. They are your best resource of information on where to go to get help.

For any significant pain or concern, please call or email Dr. Zach as we are still available to help you out. Here are some common questions we are getting about braces, Invisalign, and retainers:

BRACES - COMMON QUESTIONS

• Should I wear my rubber bands?
  • Yes! For now continue to wear rubber bands as instructed to continue your progress.
• What if I run out of rubber bands?
  • Call or email our office - we can arrange a pick up!
• What should I do if I have a broken brace?
  • If you are not in pain, you can attempt to remove the brace or place wax on it to stabilize the brace. If it is causing a significant discomfort that makes it difficult to eat or sleep, please call us and we can arrange an emergency visit to get you comfortable. Unfortunately at this time, we cannot fix broken braces but we can get you comfortable again.
• What should I do if I am in pain?
  • Call or email our office - we will set up an emergency appointment to adjust the braces to get you comfortable again.
• Will the COVID-19 shut down delay my treatment?
  • It depends on how long we are closed, but in the meantime, make sure you do the following:
    • Continue to brush your teeth 3 times per day
    • Avoid hard and sticky foods to ensure nothing is broken
    • Wear your rubber bands as instructed
• What if I have a question or something does not seem right?
  • Call or email us - Dr. Zach is available for questions : )
• Other tips:
  • Dispose of your used rubber bands and wax properly - do not put them on counters or clean surfaces
  • Since you are home, brush your teeth and floss them more often. Be sure to wash your hands before and after
  • Avoid sugary drinks to protect your teeth from white spots

INVISALIGN - COMMON QUESTIONS

• Should I continue to wear my aligners?
  • Yes! For now, continue to wear aligners as instructed to continue your progress.
• If I have rubber bands, should I wear those too?
  • Yes! For now continue to wear rubber bands as instructed to continue your progress.
• What if I run out of aligners?
  • Please give us a call and we can arrange a pick up if we have more in the office. In the event it was the last of the box, we will have to wait for another 3D scan to order more. If you are on your last aligner for awhile, please be sure to clean it more often.
• Can I clean them with soap and water?
  • Yes! You can use hand soap to clean your aligners with cold water.
• What if something does not seem right?
  • Give us a call or send an email - Dr. Zach is available for questions : )
• Other tips:
  • Clean and brush your aligners more often during this time
  • Clean your Invisalign retainer case often
  • Be sure to carry your hand sanitizer with you
  • Do not set your Invisalign down on any unclean surfaces

PALATAL EXPANDERS

• Should I keep turning the expander?
  • No, at this time, if you have not been instructed to continue your turns, you should stop and wait until your next appointment with Dr. Zach.
• Is it OK to leave it in place?
  • Yes. The expander is usually in for 9-10 months.
• What if my child was due to have it removed during the closure?
  • Please be patient and sit tight. A few extra weeks will not cause any harm.
• What if it is causing pain or discomfort?
  • Please call our office and we will be happy to help you out : )

RETAINERS - COMMON QUESTIONS

• Should I continue to wear my retainer?
  • Yes! Please continue as instructed by Dr. Zach
• Can I clean my retainer with soap and water?
  • Yes! You can use hand soap and cold water to clean your retainer. It is a good idea at this time to keep it as clean as possible. You should clean both before and after using it.
• What if I lost my retainer?
  • If you lost your retainer and you have your 3D printed model of your teeth, please give us a call and we may be able to make you a new one. We would have to arrange a drop-off/pick-up.
• Other tips:
  • Clean and brush your retainers more often during this time
  • Clean your retainer case often
  • Do not set your retainers down on any unclean surfaces

If there is any other question you have, let us know! We are here to help you and we can't wait to see your smile again : ) 

We receive lots of questions every week from people interesting straightening their teeth to improve their smile and to create a healthy bite. Here are a few of our most popular questions and answers : )

1. What is an orthodontist, and how is he/she different than my regular dentist?
   An orthodontist is a dental specialist who focuses only on treatment with braces, clear aligners (Invisalign), and retainers. An orthodontist has pursued 2-3 years of additional training beyond dental school in order to specialize in the growth and development of facial structures.
2. What problems does an orthodontist fix?
   Common orthodontic problems include crowding or spacing of teeth, uneven smile, impacted or unerupted teeth, and improper jaw alignment.
3. Will getting braces or orthodontic treatment hurt?
   Generally, there is a short period of discomfort for a couple of days in your teeth, gums, and cheeks as you mouth gets adjusted to the braces. Dr. Zach will discuss with you or your parents the best way to manage this discomfort.
4. What is the best age to see Dr. Zach for a consultation?
   In general, anyone wishing to improve his or her smile can schedule an exam at any age, from children to adults! Most full orthodontic treatments will begin around age 11-13 to coincide with the start of adolescence and the loss of remaining baby teeth. However, some problems can still develop before this age and require a form of early treatment as early as age 7.
5. How do I take care of my braces?
   Excellent brushing and flossing habits are necessary to take care of your braces and teeth. Also, you will need to follow our instructions on how to avoid any broken appliances and problems.
6. How long will I have wear braces or Invisalign clear aligners?
   Treatment times will vary on an individual basis depending on your goals and how challenging the tooth movements will be. Treatment times can range from 6 months to 30 months, and the most common treatments average about 18-20 months for a beautiful smile.
7. Do I still see my regular dentist every 6 months?
   Yes! It is absolutely necessary to see your general dentist every 6 months for regular check-ups and cleanings. The health of your teeth is our number one priority, and your dentist is essential in the maintenance of your teeth before, during, and after treatment.
8. Will I have problems playing sports or musical instruments?
   Although there is an initial adjustment period, you should not have problems participating in your normal activities with braces. We recommend wearing a mouth guard during contact sports.
9. Will I have to wear a retainer at the end of treatment?
   Yes, at the conclusion of orthodontic treatment, a retainer is required to maintain the result and keep your smile beautiful.

Still have more questions? Feel free to contact us here or call/text us anytime : ) We are happy to help!

Many people are surprised to learn that the teeth continue to move throughout life. This always leads to many questions about retainers and keeping the teeth straight. Let's dive into a few common questions.

Why do we need retainers?
Retainers help keep the teeth straight after they have been aligned with braces or Invisalign. Our teeth are held into the bone by ligaments, and over time as we age, our bones and ligaments change. As these changes occur, our teeth will unfortunately move.Example of teeth that shifted due to lack of retainer wear. We corrected the teeth with Invisalign, and placed a "fixed" retainer glued to the back of the teeth to prevent future shifting.

What types of retainers are there?
Retainers come in many shapes and forms. In our office, we use three main types of retainers. We use "fixed" retainers (AKA glued retainers, bonded retainers, permanent retainers) in many cases to hold the lower teeth straight. We use these retainers often because the lower front teeth tend be the teeth most affected by crowding as an adult. We use clear retainers (AKA Essix retainers, Invisalign retainers) in most cases, and these retainers wrap around the entire surface of your teeth like a mouthguard. In some cases, we use Hawley retainers (AKA wire retainers) which are made of acrylic and wire. Depending on your circumstance, we recommend what is best for you and give you options.

Will may retainers last forever?
We wish they could last forever, but just like anything else - glasses, shoes, etc. - they will wear out over time and need to be replaced. They tend to last longer if they are well maintained and cleaned regularly. If you need to have them replaced or feel that some teeth are shifting, make sure to call us to replace it before teeth move too much.

How long do we need to wear retainers?
The honest answer is you need to wear them as long as you want to keep straight teeth : )  Everybody is different, and some people may experience very minimal shifting without retainers while others will see lots of shifting. Unfortunately, we cannot predict whose teeth will move and whose will not, so many orthodontists now recommend "lifetime retention" to ensure a beautiful, straight smile. Dr. Zach is definitely on board with "lifetime retention" and he still wears his retainers to keep his teeth straight.

Think of this way: If you wear glasses or contacts, you must use them in order to see. They are simply a tool to help you see more clearly. Retainers are essentially the same thing: they are just a tool to help keep your teeth straight. So when you go to bed, you wear retainers as part of your maintenance to your body. It's that simple!

Wear your retainers : )
- Dr. Zach