Retainers in Chamblee, GA

At Simon Says Smile, retainers are the final and ongoing phase of orthodontic treatment — ensuring everything achieved through braces or aligners holds up long after active treatment ends.

Retainers

Why Teeth Shift After Orthodontic Treatment

When braces or aligners are removed, the surrounding bone and ligaments are still stabilizing — making teeth susceptible to drift. This tendency doesn’t disappear over time. Retention is a lifelong commitment for anyone who wants to preserve their orthodontic results.

Factors that contribute to post-treatment shifting include:

Types of Retainers We Provide

Retainer type depends on treatment, age, and lifestyle. Removable options are worn for prescribed hours; fixed retainers are bonded behind the front teeth and require no patient action. Many patients use both — fixed on the lower arch, removable for the upper.

Retainers and Continued Growth in Young Patients

Jaw growth continues after treatment ends, complicating retention for children and teens. We monitor retainer fit at follow-up visits and replace or adjust as needed throughout adolescence.

Retainers for Patients with Special Needs

For patients with special healthcare needs, retainer compliance can present unique challenges. Fixed retainers offer a reliable alternative when removable compliance is difficult, and we build retention plans around what the patient can realistically follow.

How to Care for Your Retainer

An uncleaned retainer becomes a source of bacteria, plaque, and odor. Rinse and brush removable retainers daily — never with toothpaste. Floss beneath fixed retainer wires daily, and always store removable retainers in their case.

Retainers

Replacing a Lost or Damaged Retainer

A lost or broken retainer should be replaced as quickly as possible. Even a few weeks without wear can cause enough shifting that the replacement no longer fits — potentially requiring additional treatment before a new one can be made. We see patients promptly when a retainer is lost or damaged and keep records on file to expedite replacement.

To avoid retainer emergencies:

Always use the retainer case provided, never wrap it in a napkin or leave it loose in a bag
Keep retainers away from heat to avoid warping
Check fixed retainer wires regularly for any sign of loosening or breakage
Contact our office immediately if a retainer is lost, broken, or no longer fits comfortably

Retainer Wear Beyond Active Treatment

Full-Time to Part-Time Wear Transition

Immediately after treatment, retainers are worn full-time — typically 22 hours per day — for the first several months while bone and tissue stabilize. Once the teeth demonstrate stability, we transition to nighttime-only wear. This transition reflects that nightly wear is now sufficient, not that the retainer is no longer important. We make this call based on what we observe, not a fixed timeline.

Long-Term Retention and What It Protects

Retainer wear has no finish line. Patients who stop wearing their retainer in their twenties often notice significant shifting by their thirties — a pattern common enough to drive substantial demand for retreatment. Wearing a retainer a few nights per week for life is a small ask relative to the time and investment that created the smile. We are straightforward about this because we want the results to last.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need to Know About Retainers

How long do I need to wear my retainer?

Retainer wear is a long-term commitment. Most patients wear their retainer full time for the first several months after treatment, then transition to nightly wear once the teeth have stabilized, and we recommend maintaining that nightly routine indefinitely. Teeth have a natural tendency to shift throughout life, and consistent retainer wear is the only reliable way to prevent that from undoing the results of treatment.

What is the difference between a removable and a fixed retainer?

A removable retainer is taken in and out by the patient and worn for a set number of hours each day, while a fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded permanently to the back surfaces of the teeth that works continuously without any action required from the patient. Many patients use both: a fixed retainer on the lower front teeth, where shifting is most common, paired with a removable retainer for the upper arch.

My retainer feels tight. Is that normal?

Some tightness when putting a retainer back in after time away from wearing it is normal and is a sign that the teeth have moved slightly during that period. If the retainer seats fully and the tightness resolves within a day or two of consistent wear, there is no cause for concern, but if the retainer no longer fits at all or causes significant discomfort, contact our office so we can assess whether any shifting has occurred that needs to be addressed.

At Simon Says Smile, Where every smile is a win!

Get In Touch

Reach out to us today to book your appointment. Our team looks forward to welcoming you and guiding you every step of the way toward a smile you’ll feel confident sharing.

Phone:
404-480-4940

Email: .

Location:
3731 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd
Suite 103
Chamblee, GA 30341

Hours:

Mon-Thu: 7:30AM – 5:00PM
Fri: 8:00AM – 1:00PM
Sat-Sun: Closed

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