Orthodontic Retainers

Protect Your Orthodontic Results

Your active orthodontic treatment may be complete, but keeping your teeth in their new positions is a long-term process. A custom retainer helps protect the alignment achieved with braces or clear aligners as the tissues surrounding your teeth adjust.

At Citrus Grove Orthodontics, Dr. Jeffrey Brumbaugh provides personalized retainer guidance for children, teens, and adults in Orange and Whittier. Whether you are receiving your first retainer, replacing a lost or damaged appliance, or concerned that an older retainer no longer fits, our team can evaluate what has changed and recommend an appropriate next step.

Retainer Types and Personalized Wear Instructions

The right retainer depends on your treatment history, alignment, bite, age, and ability to care for the appliance. Dr. Brumbaugh may recommend a removable clear retainer, a traditional Hawley-style retainer, a fixed or bonded retainer, or a combination when clinically appropriate.

  • Clear removable retainers: Thin, discreet appliances molded to fit over the teeth.
  • Hawley-style retainers: Durable removable appliances made with acrylic and a wire that sits across the front teeth.
  • Fixed retainers: A slim wire bonded behind selected teeth to provide continuous support.

Retainer wear is not one-size-fits-all. Follow the schedule provided by Dr. Brumbaugh, and bring your retainer to recommended visits so fit and condition can be checked.

When a Retainer Needs Attention

Contact our team promptly if your retainer is lost, cracked, warped, painful, unusually tight, or no longer seats completely. Teeth can begin moving when a retainer is not worn, so an early evaluation may make the solution simpler. Do not force a painful or badly fitting appliance into place.

Keep removable retainers in their case whenever they are not in your mouth. Avoid hot water, dishwashers, direct sunlight, and other heat sources that can distort the material. Clean the appliance as directed using cool or lukewarm water and appropriate products; abrasive toothpaste may scratch some retainers. Keep the case away from pets, which are a common cause of damaged appliances.

Fixed retainers also require careful cleaning around the wire and bonded areas. If the wire feels loose, bends, or detaches from a tooth, contact the office rather than trying to repair it yourself.

Citrus Grove Orthodontics

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers provide general guidance. Your instructions may differ based on your treatment and the type of retainer you wear.

Schedule a Retainer Visit

Contact Citrus Grove Orthodontics as soon as possible. Teeth may begin to shift when a retainer is not worn, so prompt replacement is important. We will evaluate your current alignment and take a scan or impression if a new retainer is appropriate. Keep the new appliance in its protective case whenever it is not being worn.

Clean carefully around the bonded wire and each attachment point. Floss threaders, interdental brushes, or another tool recommended by your orthodontic or dental team may help you clean beneath the wire. If any portion feels loose or detached, schedule an evaluation rather than attempting a repair at home.

Teeth can shift when retainers are not worn as directed. The appliance may then feel tight or may stop fitting completely. Do not force a painful retainer into place. Contact our team so we can check your alignment and advise whether continued wear, adjustment, or replacement is appropriate.

Need a first retainer, a replacement, or help with an appliance that no longer fits? Schedule a visit with Citrus Grove Orthodontics at our Orange orthodontic office or Whittier orthodontic office. You can also learn more about Dr. Jeffrey Brumbaugh.

For additional general guidance, see the American Association of Orthodontists’ retainer-care guide.

Clinical content reviewed by Jeffrey Brumbaugh, DDS, MS.