What is a Retainer and instructions and advice on using them

Retainers are fitted at the end of orthodontic treatment after the braces are removed. They can be either removable or fixed onto the teeth. There are different types of retainers. The choice of retainer is affected by a number of different factors and your orthodontist will explain which retainer is best for you.

Wearing retainers after orthodontic treatment is vital to help keep the teeth straight, here’s some helpful advice on getting it right. Watch our retainer instruction and advice video to find out more about what they are and how they should be worn.

Twin Block advice and instructions

Twin Blocks are a highly-popular removable brace that corrects prominent teeth and helps improve the bite, most typically in the age 10-14. There is a top and a bottom brace that when worn fit together. They can feel awkward to start with but patients quickly get more used to them and often get to the point where they forget that they’re wearing them. They are proven to be quick and effective compared to other braces that try to get the same result. On average, patients wear them day and night for around 9 months before moving on to fixed braces or retainers.

Fixed orthodontic brace care and advice

If you have a fixed orthodontic brace, or ‘train-track’, then how well you look after it is critical for a great result. If you don’t care for it properly, then you may seriously delay your treatment, or even worse cause horrid decay marks on your front teeth. We take you through some tried and tested tips, having been fitting these braces for over 25 years, we have helped thousands of patients achieve the smile they were dreaming of.