When the time comes for Drs. Brian St. Louis and George Cantu to remove your braces, it is very exciting. Unfortunately, it can be somewhat confusing, too, because you are faced with choosing between two kinds of retainers. Should you go with permanent, removable, or a combination of the two? It is always wise to follow Central Texas Orthodontics recommendations, but knowing more about the two types of retainer beforehand can be helpful.
Removable Retainers
Removable retainers offer the advantage of easy use: you will generally put a removable retainer in at night and take it out in the morning. Regardless of your retainer schedule, you’ll be able to enjoy some time with no retainer. However, a removable retainer can easily be forgotten at times, and this means you won’t be taking full advantage of teeth retention.
Another potential advantage of a removable retainer is that you can take it out and brush and floss your teeth with ease, which is more of a challenge with a permanent retainer. Although removable retainers can be very effective, they don’t tend to be as effective as permanent retainers, especially if they are not used as directed.
Permanent Retainers
Permanent retainers are the clear choice for patients who want to “get it and forget it.” Once your permanent retainer is placed in your mouth, you won’t need to worry about daily retainer schedules, since it is permanently affixed to your teeth.
Because teeth begin to shift naturally as we age, a permanent retainer typically offers better long-term results for teeth straightening than a removable one. You can’t forget to put it in — it’s already there! Temporary retainers get lost or are forgotten on trips, and often fail to get used as often as they should be.
One drawback to permanent retainers is flossing. Some patients find it more difficult to floss with a permanent retainer, but we can show you effective ways to floss fairly quickly with your permanent retainer.
Some orthodontists may recommend a combination of the two; for example, a removable retainer for the top teeth and a permanent one for the lower ones because the lower teeth are smaller and tend to shift more.
Ultimately, the most important thing to remember is that wearing your retainer as directed is extremely important. As long as you follow our orthodontist’s advice, you will get the best results from your retainer, regardless of its type. If you’re still not sure whether the choice you’ve made is truly right for you, get in touch with us at our Austin, TX location right away!
Excellent service and treatment!
by Lisa
Category: orthodontistWe have been seeing Dr. St. Loius at Central Texas Orthodontics for a couple kids now over several years. Everytime we walk in for an appointment, we are greeted warmly and promptly taken back. The office is easy to get to and always runs on time, we have never had to wait to be seen, which is remarkable for a medical/dental office! The payment options were also fair and easy to understand. And the follow up, even after those braces come off, has been stellar! Retainers get lost or chewed up sometimes (ugg!), but a quick text into the office and we were able to drop off the original molds and have new ones made very quickly. Everyone who works at this office truly cares, and you can tell they all enjoy where they work, which is really wonderful to see. I cannot speak highly enough of this office, the staff, the care, and ESPECIALLY the after care and protecting our investment.
Austin’s Best Orthodontics!
by Robin Petmecky
Category: orthodontistDr. St. Louis and his staff are exceptional! Their professional, friendly and caring manner stand out every time I have an appointment. They are always very positive during my visits and make me feel like I’m part of their family. I never have to wait to be seen and I’m usually out in a minimal amount of time. I had my last orthodontic visit recently and they invited me to stop in anytime, just to say hello. I highly recommend Central Texas Orthodontics to anyone needing their services. They are truly the BEST!
FANTASTIC GROUP!
by Melissa Moore Yacono
Category: orthodontistI love this office and the lovely, happy, warm staff!! Every one of the staff is kind and friendly! The vibe of the office is uplifting, relaxing, and Austin-y. Love it. The plants make it pleasant. Everything is so clean! What a refreshing visit and thank you so much for the stellar customer service.
Simply the Best!
by Christine Laux
Category: orthodontistDr. B. and his team are fantastic: Everyone just truly cares! They are knowledgeable and super helpful, always happy to consult. I recommend CTO not only for children and teens, but for adults as well! My two teenage daughters got their braces and I got my Invisalign. Dr. B. took his time to go over all our treatment plans and make adjustments. The communication is seamless and very responsive. All team members are wonderful - my special shoutout goes to Beatrice and Christen though: Those two lovely ladies go above and beyond with everything they do! Thanks to y’alls fabulous care our teeth are all straight now!
Awesome Experience
by Norma Constancio
Category: orthodontistDr. St. Louis and his staff were wonderful! From their friendly staff, nice office environment and Dr. St. Louis always willing to answer my questions. I would 100% recommend Central Texas Orthodontics to anyone.
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