Retainers in Pasadena

You survived wearing braces. Your teeth are beautiful, even, and you love your new smile. The issue now is how to keep your smile looking perfect – that is what retainers are for.

How Braces Work

The purpose of braces is to exert constant pressure on the teeth, so they can slowly shift. Over time, the teeth move into a better, more attractive (and healthy) position. In order for this to happen, certain biomechanical processes occur within the bone to “remodel” and adapt to the new position of the teeth.

In the early stages of the process, the existing bone is shifted for the new position; this takes about 72 hours to begin to occur. Once the teeth are shifting, the rebuilding part of the process starts. New bone cells start growing around the teeth in their altered position to keep them stable; this takes about 90 days to begin. Additionally, as the bone is readjusting and growing new cells, so is the gum tissue.

Why do I need a retainer after removing the braces?

Once the teeth are in the final position, it takes about 10 months to stabilize the result and prevent the teeth from shifting back to where they were. The last thing you want to have happen is for your teeth to move back into an intermediate—or, worst case, their original—position. This is when a retainer becomes your new best friend.

Its purpose is to maintain the position of the teeth as the bone and soft tissue adjust.

Are there Different Types of Retainers?

There are three types of retainers. Your orthodontist will recommend the type that will work best for your individual case.

They are:

A Hawley retainer – Made of metal and acrylic, the Hawley retainer is the most commonly used. The acrylic part is thin, shaped like a tongue and is molded to fit across the roof of your mouth. The metal wire that goes across the front of the teeth is what holds them in position. Because the wire is bendable, your orthodontist can do slight adjustments to it to subtly shift the position of your teeth even after the braces have come off. A Hawley retainer is quite durable with proper care and will last a long time. It is also easy to clean.
An Essex retainer – This is a molded, clear plastic retainer, similar to an Invisalign tray (There is, in fact, a retainer made specifically to be worn after the Invisalign treatment is complete.) Patients generally like this type of retainer, because it is virtually invisible—certainly less noticeable than a Hawley, with the metal across the front of the teeth. Orthodontists like them less, because they prevent the top and bottom teeth from touching naturally. Because of this, they are not recommended for people who grind their teeth. Also, this type can trap liquids against the teeth, is harder to clean and begins to wear out within a few years.
A fixed retainer – Made of metal, a fixed retainer is bonded to the back of the lower teeth and can only be removed by your orthodontist. It is very stable and often recommended when there is a high risk that the teeth could shift back to their original position. Although it is often called a “permanent” retainer, in many cases, it will only need to be worn for 6 months to a year, after which your orthodontist will swap it out for a Hawley or an Essex.

How long will I have to wear a retainer?

The two most important factors in caring for your retainer are:

Keeping it clean. If a Hawley or Essex, remove it before eating and before brushing and flossing.
When not wearing it, storing it in a safe place, where it will not be damaged or lost.

Why should I choose Pasadena Smile Center?

The highly experienced staff at the Pasadena Smile Center practices holistic dentistry for one reason: We care about the well-being of the whole patient. We offer the gentlest, least aggressive treatments that will produce the desired result, as well as use non-toxic materials to help maintain long-term health.

Schedule a Consultation >>

Practice Policy Update Regarding COVID-19

May 2020

Dear Valued Patient:

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

All patients must wear a mask when entering the office.

Anyone accompanying you will be asked to wait in their vehicle.

Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.

Upon arrival at your appointment your temperature will be taken for the safety of all staff and patients.

Prior to receiving treatment you will be asked to rinse with an antimicrobial for a minimum of 30 seconds

We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.

You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.

UV Air purifiers have been placed throughout the office.

Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.

We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time, so we ask that you do your best to be on time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (626)798-7834 or visit our website at pasadenasmilecenter@yahoo.com.

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Sincerely, Niloufar Molayem, D.D.S. & Team