Woman smiling while holding a clear retainer at Amanda Lawrence Orthodontics

Protect Your Smile

Retainers in Hampton

We provide custom retainers for our patients after orthodontic treatment. Retainers are essential to hold your teeth in their new positions and protect the results of your treatment. They support the teeth, bone, and gums as they settle after active treatment and help prevent unwanted movement over time.

Our custom retainers are comfortable, easy to wear, and designed to help you maintain a healthy, confident smile for years to come.

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Woman smiling while holding an Invisalign clear aligner in Hampton

Why Retainers Are Essential

Even after braces or teeth aligners have done their job, your teeth and surrounding bone continue to adapt. Without a retainer, teeth can gradually drift or crowd again, especially in the first months after treatment and as part of normal ageing.

Using a retainer allows the bone and gums to stabilise and prevents the teeth moving back toward their original positions. Wearing your retainer exactly as recommended is critical to protecting the investment you’ve made in your smile.

Types of Retainers we offer

Amanda will recommend the best retainer combination based on your bite, age, lifestyle, and long-term stability goals.

Removable

Made from clear medical-grade plastic that fits snugly over your teeth.
Usually worn full-time for the first 6 months unless instructed otherwise.
Often paired with a second night-time appliance (plate) depending on your treatment.
Easy to remove for eating, cleaning, and sports.

Plate Retainers

A pink acrylic plate with fine wires, typically worn overnight
Provides additional long-term stability once daytime wear is reduced.
Always hold the plate by the plastic, not the wire, to prevent bending.

Fixed (Bonded) Retainers

A thin wire bonded to the back of your upper and/or lower front teeth.
Provides continuous support without needing to remember to wear it.
Often remains in place for several years after treatment.
Ideal for patients who prefer a “set-and-forget” option.

Removable (Clear or Plastic) Retainers

How Often Do I Need to Wear My Retainer?

For the first 6 months after treatment, retainers are typically worn full-time. Do not change your wearing schedule unless instructed by your orthodontist.

Most patients are provided with:
- A clear retainer for daytime wear
- A plate retainer to be worn at night

Your individual treatment may vary, so it’s important to follow your specific instructions carefully. Always bring your retainers to every appointment so we can check the fit and adjust them if needed.

Colourful clear aligners and retainers on display at Amanda Lawrence Orthodontics

Orthodontist using an intraoral scanner at Amanda Lawrence Orthodontics

How Retainer Care Works

Clear Retainer (Daytime Wear)

Clear Retainer (Daytime Wear)
Remove your retainer when eating, drinking hot beverages, swimming, playing sport, and brushing your teeth.
Avoid flicking the retainer in and out with your tongue, as this can damage or break it.

Clean daily using:

A soft toothbrush or cotton buds
Plain soap
Cool or warm water (never hot water, as it can distort the retainer)

Do not use toothpaste, as it may scratch the plastic.
Soak your retainer 10–15 minutes a few times a week in Retainer Brite, Polident, or Steradent to keep it fresh.

Always store your retainer in its protective case when not in use. Never wrap it in a tissue or place it loosely in a pocket, retainers are commonly lost or damaged this way.

How Retainer Care Works

Plate Retainer (Night-Time Wear)

Clean once daily with a soft toothbrush. Toothpaste may be used for this retainer.
Hold the plate by the pink acrylic, not the wire.
Soak regularly in a denture-cleaning solution if needed.

When not worn, always store it in its case. Night retainers are easily lost, sat on, or damaged, and yes, pets love them too. If you don’t have time to clean it in the morning, leave it in water and brush it later to prevent tartar build-up.

How Retainer Care Works

Bonded Retainer (Wire Behind the Teeth)

Your upper and/or lower front teeth may also be supported by a bonded retainer, a wire glued behind the teeth. This is an important and highly effective way to maintain alignment long-term.

Daily cleaning is essential and includes:

Brushing carefully behind the front teeth
Flossing around the wire (you’ll be shown how)
Using an inter-dental brush (inter-brush) at gum level
Optional use of floss threaders

If your bonded retainer feels loose, rough, or different in any way, contact us immediately. Early repairs are usually simple; delaying can cause unwanted tooth movement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Retainers

Retainers help prevent your teeth from shifting back to their original positions after treatment. Teeth naturally tend to move over time without retention.

Amanda will advise you, but many patients wear retainers full‑time initially, then transition to night‑only wear long‑term. Some may benefit from lifelong nighttime retention.

Fixed retainers offer continuous support and don’t require you to remember to wear them, while removable retainers are easier to clean and can be taken out for eating and hygiene. Amanda will recommend what’s best for your situation.

Yes, retainers can crack or bend. If it happens, contact us promptly so we can assess and replace it if needed.

Some patients experience a slight adjustment period when first wearing a retainer, but speech usually returns to normal within a few days.

Removable retainers should be taken out for eating and drinking (except water). Fixed retainers stay in place but require careful cleaning around them.

Have an issue with your retainer? Call us below.

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