Retainers in Locust Valley

Depending on when you finished your braces or Invisalign regimen, teeth can move as quickly as overnight for some people, or it might take a couple of days for a shift to be noticed.

You should follow Dr. Kosters directions for how long you will need to wear your retainer on a regular basis. In many people, this is less than a year, but others may be instructed to wear it at night for longer, even permanently.

Retainers can damage gums if they do not fit properly, which is why it is important to choose a qualified dentist such as Dr. Koster when seeking retainers.

No, retainers are meant to help your teeth settle into their newly aligned position and only need to be worn for about a year in most cases.

Clear plastic retainers can be cleaned by rinsing them in warm water, then letting them soak in either a vinegar solution or Invisaligns cleaning crystals solution.

You should wear your specific retainer for as long as Dr. Koster tells you to, which will usually be about a year or less after finishing your orthodontia or Invisalign treatment.

In the first few days of wearing a retainer, many people experience a feeling of tightness, as teeth resist conforming to the shape of the retainer. With regular use, this should subside but can return if the retainer is not worn as directed.

Improper fit from a retainer can cause issues including TMJ. Dr. Koster will ensure that your retainer fits properly and does not misalign your bite.

Teeth move gradually but slowly after being corrected through braces or Invisalign, and even a few hours without a retainer can cause them to move, including overnight.

You can eat popcorn with a retainer but should remove the retainer first just as you would before eating any other foods.

Keeping a permanent retainer clean is the same as how you would clean your teeth. Make sure to floss both above and below the retainer to avoid plaque from building up in that hard-to-reach area.

A retainer is not designed to be corrective, but rather preventative, and it cannot fix an overbite.

Braces are a much more effective way to reposition teeth that are misaligned. Retainers are designed to simply keep teeth in the corrected position until their new positions become the new normal.

Retainers do not move your teeth. Instead, they hold your teeth in the proper position.

You should wear a retainer after Invisalign treatment just as you would after undergoing treatment with traditional braces.

If your teeth have shifted during your Invisalign treatment, you should talk to Dr. Koster, who can advise you on how to get back on the right path and if necessary, adjust your treatment.