Wearing retainers at the end of orthodontic treatment is essential to keep teeth straight permanently

Congratulations on completing your course of fixed appliance (brace) treatment. Although your fixed appliance has been removed, your treatment has not yet finished. Your teeth are not yet ‘set’ in their new position, and so you must wear the retainers provided full time, or as otherwise instructed. FAILURE TO DO THIS WILL RESULT IN YOUR TEETH RELAPSING TOWARDS THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION.

You will normally have to wear the removable retainers for several weeks full time, and thereafter on a part time basis for many years. After you complete your retention regime with us, we advise that you continue to wear your retainer, at least 3 nights a week on an indefinite basis (lifelong) , to keep your teeth straight.

Please look after your retainers as there is a charge if you lose them. The NHS replacement fee for each retainer (or part of an appliance) is £95.70 for patients within a course of NHS treatment. Private removable retainers start from £150.

If you have any problems with your retainer, or if it breaks, please contact the practice when the problem arises. If we have fitted a bonded wire retainer permanently onto your teeth, and you feel any segment of it working loose or breaking, please contact us immediately.