Retainers in Aurora

What it is

When braces come off, your teeth are in their new places, but the tissues around them are not yet settled. The fibres that hold each tooth in the bone have a kind of memory and tend to pull teeth back toward where they started. Teeth also shift slowly throughout life, even in people who never had braces. A retainer gently holds everything in line while this settling happens and long after.

There are three common types. A clear retainer is a thin plastic tray shaped to your teeth. It is hard to see and easy to slip in at night. A wire-and-acrylic retainer, often called a Hawley retainer, has a plastic plate behind the teeth and a thin wire across the front. It is sturdy and can be adjusted. A bonded retainer is a fine wire fixed to the back of the front teeth, usually the lower ones. People often call it a permanent retainer, but it can loosen or break and still needs checks.

The American Association of Orthodontists advises wearing a removable retainer full-time for the first few months, then at night going forward. Dr. Farhad Sobouti, DDS, MSc (Orthodontics), FRCDC, provides our orthodontic treatment and will set your own wear schedule. Some people do well with one type, while others use a bonded wire on the lower teeth and a clear retainer on the upper teeth.

If you finished treatment elsewhere and your retainer is lost, cracked or tight, you are welcome to see us. A retainer that no longer fits can be a sign your teeth have started to drift, and acting early makes a difference.

Is it right for me?

• Your braces or aligners are about to come off.
• You lost or broke your retainer and your teeth feel different.
• Your old retainer feels tight or will not seat fully.
• You stopped wearing your retainer and notice small gaps or crowding.
• Your bonded wire feels loose, rough or has come away from a tooth.

Step by step

1. Check your teethDr. Sobouti looks at your bite and gums, and at any bonded wire or old retainer you already have.
2. Scan or impressionA digital scan or impression records the exact position of your teeth so the retainer can match them.
3. Fit and instructionsYou try the retainer in, we check that it seats well, and you get a written wear schedule and cleaning tips.
4. Follow-up checksShort visits over the next months confirm that your teeth are holding steady and the retainer still fits.

How it compares

General information. Your dentist will explain what applies to you.

Benefits and risks

Cost and coverage

If you have braces or aligners with us, your written treatment plan shows whether retainers are included and what a replacement would involve. For a new or replacement retainer on its own, the fee depends on the type and whether one or both arches need it. We use the Ontario Dental Association fee guide as our reference and bill all insurance plans directly, although some plans have rules about replacing retainers. The Canadian Dental Care Plan does not currently list orthodontic services; IFHP rules vary, so we check for you. Ask about our in-house dental plan and student program. You'll get a written estimate before anything is made.

What shapes your estimate

• The type of retainer and whether you need upper, lower or both
• Whether a new scan or impression is needed
• Replacing a lost or damaged retainer versus a first set
• Repairing or rebonding a loose bonded wire
• Your plan's orthodontic coverage and replacement rules

Read more about insurance and payment, the Canadian Dental Care Plan and IFHP coverage.

After your visit

• Take removable retainers out to eat, and store them in their case, not in a napkin.
• Rinse and brush your retainer each time it comes out, using cool water and mild soap.
• Keep it away from hot water, dishwashers, car dashboards and pets.
• Bring your retainer to every checkup so we can look at the fit.

Questions