Uptown Park Dental
Retainers in New Westminster
Retainers
After braces or aligners, teeth still need time to settle. The bone and gums around them are soft from the movement, and without a little support, they can shift right back. That’s where retainers come in.
A retainer is a small, custom-made device that holds teeth where they belong. Some are removable, clear, and shaped like a thin tray. Others are fixed — a fine wire attached behind the teeth that stays in place full-time. Both do the same job: they keep your new smile steady while everything around it firms up.
At our New Westminster office, we usually fit retainers right after orthodontic treatment wraps up. The dentist checks how your teeth have settled, then takes a scan or mold to make a retainer that fits exactly.
For removable types, you’ll wear them most of the day for the first few months, then only at night once things stabilize. We’ll show you how to clean them and what to avoid — hot water, scrubbing, or leaving them out in a napkin (the number one way they get lost).
Fixed retainers are more hands-off. You’ll hardly notice them after a week, but they do need good brushing and flossing around the wire. We’ll show you an easy way to thread floss so nothing gets trapped.
How long you’ll need to wear a retainer depends on your teeth. Some people taper off within a year; others keep a night retainer long-term. The truth is, a few nights a week of wear can save years of correction later.
Retainers don’t move teeth — they protect the work that’s already done. It’s the last step, and maybe the most important one, in keeping your smile right where you want it.
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