Keep Your Smile on Track
Hartsdale Retainers
Retainers at Smile Studio Orthodontics help protect your results after braces, Invisalign, or another orthodontic treatment. Dr. Yubin uses custom retainers to help keep your teeth in place, prevent shifting, and make your new smile last.
Custom Retainers for Lasting Results
Your teeth can shift after treatment, even after your braces come off or you finish your final Invisalign tray. A retainer helps hold your teeth in their new positions so your smile stays straight, healthy, and stable.
At Smile Studio Orthodontics in Hartsdale, Dr. Yubin will recommend the right retainer based on your treatment, your smile, and your long-term needs. Your plan may include a clear removable retainer, a Hawley retainer, a fixed retainer, or another custom option.
Essix Retainers
Essix retainers are clear, removable trays that fit closely over your teeth. They look similar to Invisalign aligners, making them a simple, low-profile way to maintain your smile after treatment.
Each one is custom-made to match your teeth after treatment, fully covering your smile to hold your teeth in their new positions. You can remove your Essix retainer to eat, brush, and floss. Because it is clear and lightweight, it fits easily into your routine while helping protect the results you worked hard to achieve.
Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers are a trusted option for keeping your smile in place over time. They use a durable acrylic base and a thin metal wire that rests across the front of your teeth.
A Hawley retainer is custom-made to fit your mouth and support your final tooth position after braces or Invisalign. It is removable, long-lasting, and easy to clean. If your teeth need small refinements during retention, Dr. Yubin may be able to adjust the wire to improve the fit and help keep your smile on track.
Caring for Your Retainer
Your smile journey doesn’t end when your braces come off. To maintain your new, straight, healthy smile, you’ll need to take care of your retainers and wear them properly. Follow these instructions to ensure your confident smile lasts a lifetime:
- Wear your retainers whenever you’re home unless we tell you otherwise. You can remove them to eat, brush your teeth, swim, or play contact sports.
- Bring your retainer to follow-up appointments so we can ensure it still fits correctly.
- Keep your retainer case with you so your retainers stay safe when you’re not wearing them. Always placing them in your case can prevent costly replacements.
- Call us to schedule an appointment as soon as possible if you notice your retainer doesn’t fit properly or is cracked or broken.
- Call us right away if you lose your retainer. The longer you go without one, the more quickly and likely your teeth will shift out of alignment.
- Clean your retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and warm — but not hot — water. This helps remove plaque and eliminate odors.
- Practice talking, reading, or singing out loud while wearing your retainer to help your mouth adjust quickly.
- Keep your retainers away from heat — including hot water, hot cars, the washing machine or dryer, and even your pockets — so they don’t warp and break easily.
- Treat your retainers with care, and they’ll last as long as you need them to during your retention phase.
Retainers FAQs
Wondering what life with retainers is like? Here’s what to expect when protecting your smile after treatment at Smile Studio Orthodontics.