Here at Nordberg Orthodontics, there’s nothing we love more than seeing a patient’s face light up when their beautiful new smile is revealed for the first time! It’s a wonderful feeling, and we never get tired of helping children, teens, and adults achieve the exceptional results they’ve been hoping for. Completing the active phase of treatment is a celebration in our office, but the work doesn’t stop here—now it’s time for the retention phase! Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about retainers!

Once your braces come off or you use your last aligner, the gentle pressure that moved the teeth into their new positions is removed. It takes time for the bones and tissue around the teeth to reorganize and adjust to all the shifting that occurred throughout the treatment process. Without something holding them in place, the teeth will begin to drift back to their original positions. That’s why the retention phase is so critical, and why wearing a retainer regularly is such an important part of keeping your smile in place.

But what is a retainer? A retainer is an orthodontic appliance, just like braces or clear aligners. Once the active phase of treatment is complete, we’ll use an impression or scan of your newly straightened teeth to create a customized retainer. This will usually happen on the same day your braces are removed or after you’ve used your last aligner. We may decide to take another set of x-rays or scans to ensure everything is where we want it to be, then we’ll get your retainer ready and walk you through when and how to wear it.