Retainers are an essential part of every orthodontic treatment. Every patient has one set of retainers included in their orthodontic treatment at Manuka Smiles.

Your retainers are a vital part of your orthodontic treatment. Without them your teeth will move after the braces have been removed. Initially they are holding your teeth while the bone reforms around your teeth. They also hold your teeth while your gums remodel to accept the new tooth positions. Long term they hold against late facial growth and wisdom tooth development.

We don't see you as regularly once your braces have been removed. If you have a problem with instability of your teeth, please wear your retainers all the time & contact us for an appointment.

Types of Retainers

Hawley Retainers

They are accurate and the most robust type. They are made of acrylic and have a wire that runs across the outside surface of your front teeth. They are adjustable (slightly) and will hold against any future tooth movement that wisdom teeth or late facial growth may try to cause.

Essix Retainers

They are invisible retainers that are made of clear plastic and fit over your teeth. These retainers often do not last more than 6 months if worn all day every day and will need to be replaced at some point.

Bonded Retainers

It is a piece of wire that is glued to the back surface of the front 6 teeth after orthodontics. This style of retainer is not highly recommended at Manuka Smiles although in some cases the orthodontist might decide that it is the better type of retainer to use.

Retainer instructions

• WEAR THEM! Retainers must be worn at all times unless otherwise advised. If they are causing you any discomfort or you have a question, do not stop wearing them, contact us straight away.
• KEEP THEM CLEAN! Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates odors.
• DONT USE HOT WATER ON THEM!
• When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer box. Pets love to chew on them and most appliances are lost in school lunchrooms or restaurants when placed in napkins.
• Lost or broken retainers incur extra cost! When worn correctly they cannot break or be lost. If you flip them in your mouth with your tongue, they are likely to break and you will annoy others.
• Your retainer will affect your speech when first used. After a few days your tongue will adapt to the retainer. Reading aloud from a book to learn to speak clearly may help.

Additional instructions for invisible retainers (ESSIX)

• Take them out for eating. They may be left in to drink cool clear liquid.
• Remove and insert your invisible retainer carefully to avoid breaking the plastic.
• DO NOT exposure your invisible retainer to heat this can damage the plastic and change the shape of the retainer.