Retainers and Appliances

Removable retainers and appliances are carefully designed to move or to hold your teeth. It is important that your appliance is worn according to instructions and brought to each appointment.

Wear your retainer or appliance as instructed. It may be removed while eating, swimming, or playing vigorous sports activities. In two or three days your speech will return to normal with the retainer or appliance in place. Avoid flipping your retainer or appliance with your tongue. This can cause damage to your teeth or breakage of your appliance.

Your new retainer or 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 at West Islip Office Phone Number 631-661-6202 so that we can make an adjustment.

Clean your retainers and appliances by brushing them daily with toothpaste. Denture cleaner can also be used for a more thorough cleaning. If you are wearing a bonded wire retainer behind your front teeth, be extra careful to clean the wire and the area around it. Flossing should be done every day.

Never wrap your retainers or appliances 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. Whenever it is not in your mouth it should be in its plastic case.

Keep your retainers and appliances away from dogs or cats as 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.

An additional charge will be incurred for lost or broken retainers and appliances.