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Port St Lucie

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Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, West Boca Raton

Call / Text 561-270-0209
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Margate, North Ft. Lauderdale, Downtown Ft Lauderdale, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines

Call / Text 954-358-4799
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  • Our Practice
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Port St Lucie

Call / Text 772-272-1464
Call
Text

Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, West Boca Raton

Call / Text 561-270-0209
Call
Text

Margate, North Ft. Lauderdale, Downtown Ft Lauderdale, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines

Call / Text 954-358-4799
Call
Text

How Long Do You Have to Wear a Retainer?

Find Confidence in Your Smile

how-long-to-wear-your-retainer
  • Cooper Orthodontics
  • | March 17, 2021

The short answer is—for life. Yes, to maintain your beautiful end result after your braces or Invisalign® treatment, it’s best that you wear your retainer for life.

Don’t be alarmed, though! We know that probably sounds overwhelming right now. You won’t have to wear your retainer 24 hours a day for the rest of your life. After about a year of consistent wear, you’ll be able to wear your retainer only a few nights a week for it to do its job.

Now that we’ve recovered from the initial panic, let’s dive into why your retainer is so important and how often you’ll be wearing it from the start.

How long should I wear my retainer after my braces or Invisalign treatment is over?

The day your braces are finally removed or you take out your Invisalign clear aligners for the last time, you’ll be given a removable retainer and the option of a fixed retainer. When you’re just beginning the retention phase, you’ll be advised to wear your retainer throughout the day and night for about six months.

Wearing your retainer right after your braces or Invisalign treatment is over is essential for maintaining your new smile. Your teeth are especially susceptible to ‘relapsing’ (reverting back to their original position) during the first few months.

Without the support of your braces or Invisalign clear aligners, your teeth have the tendency to shift. They need continued support to solidify in their new position.

Can I wear my retainer only at night?

Before long, yes, you’ll be able to wear your retainer only at night! For people who have fixed (permanent) retainers, you’ll never have to think about wearing your retainer. It’ll be in place, retaining your new smile at all times.

As for your removable retainer, you’ll have the freedom to take it out during the day (after a few months of wear), clean it and soak it as often as you need.

Once you’re able to wear your retainer only at night—and we’ll tell you when you can do this—your teeth will have settled into their final position. Although, your teeth do still need support from your retainer, so don’t let it accumulate dust in your retainer case.

Will my teeth shift without a retainer for a week?

How vulnerable your teeth are to shifting after a week of not wearing your retainer will depend on where you are in your retention phase. If it’s your first week wearing your retainer and you don’t wear it for the next week, you can expect some shifting!
If you’ve been wearing your retainer for a year and you don’t wear it for a week, you probably won’t experience any significant shifting. This doesn’t mean you should risk it, though!

Throughout your retention process, if you find it difficult to fit your retainer in your mouth at any point, do not force it. The last thing you want to do is damage your retainer or your teeth! Never force a retainer back in your mouth. Give us a call and we’ll see you as soon as possible to adjust your retainer.

We know this is a lot of information, and if you’re in the beginning of your orthodontic journey, this is probably a lot to consider. Rest assured that we’ll tell you everything you need to know when you’re nearing the end of your braces or Invisalign treatment. How often to wear your retainer, how long to wear your retainer and which retainer will best suit your lifestyle—we’ll discuss all of this in detail!

In the meantime, if you have any questions about proper retainer wear, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re more than happy to discuss your retainer with you!

If you haven’t received your complimentary consultation yet, we encourage you to request yours today.

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PATIENT REVIEWS

Our 5-Star Experience

Check out what our patients are saying about their 5-star experience with our amazing doctors and team!

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Niria P.
My husbad and I had a great experience in this office. Very friendly staff and knowledgeable doctors. Highly recommend.
Niria P.
My husbad and I had a great experience in this office. Very friendly staff and knowledgeable doctors. Highly recommend.
Black P.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT MY SON IS IMPROVING AND LOVING HIS BRACES VERY CLEAN AND NICE STAFF
Black P.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT MY SON IS IMPROVING AND LOVING HIS BRACES VERY CLEAN AND NICE STAFF
Tenaezha B.
The service my daughter received at each visit has nothing been less than phenomenal!! I highly recommend this location to any parent looking for orthodontic services.
Tenaezha B.
The service my daughter received at each visit has nothing been less than phenomenal!! I highly recommend this location to any parent looking for orthodontic services.
Yogesh R.
The whole experience was fantastic and you can clearly see the difference in my sons teeth.In the beginning it may hurt but it all paid off in the end.
Daisha M.
Staff was very great with my first visit ever. Emily was very amazing she made me very comfortable to not be nervous about my first time having braces.
Daisha M.
Staff was very great with my first visit ever. Emily was very amazing she made me very comfortable to not be nervous about my first time having braces.
Rachel’s W.
Yasmin was awesome today. She was very informative and made the process of reapplying my wires very comfortable
Dannia Q.
I had a great experience, I came here from a different orthodontics office and nothing compares with this staff and their work. Amazing people working here and explains the whole process. Definitely recommend.
Dannia Q.
I had a great experience, I came here from a different orthodontics office and nothing compares with this staff and their work. Amazing people working here and explains the whole process. Definitely recommend.
Dannia Q.
Great work and staff. Everyone is very nice and explains the process very well. Definitely recommend this place.
Dannia Q.
Great work and staff. Everyone is very nice and explains the process very well. Definitely recommend this place.
YVNGCHIEFA
Great staff in the office very professional they got my brother provided with braces and he is very happy with his service and with his new experience.
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We provide high-quality orthodontic care in 12 convenient locations. Our experienced family orthodontists create individualized treatment plans with Invisalign®, different types of braces and more for children, teens, and adults looking to achieve a beautiful, healthy smile. We can’t wait to meet you soon!

Locations
  • Port St. Lucie, FL
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  • Boynton Beach, FL
  • Delray Beach, FL
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  • Margate, FL
  • North Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Downtown Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Plantation, FL
  • Weston, FL
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Call / Text

Port St Lucie

Call / Text 772-272-1464
Call
Text

Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, West Boca Raton

Call / Text 561-270-0209
Call
Text

Margate, North Ft. Lauderdale, Downtown Ft Lauderdale, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines

Call / Text 954-358-4799
Call
Text
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