Retainers
Preserving and stabilizing the result of your orthodontic treatment is known as “retention” and the appliances used for this purpose are called “retainers”. Almost every individual who has undergone orthodontic care will need to wear some type of a retainer to help their teeth remain in position.
There are two major kinds of orthodontic retainers. Removable retainers that can be taken in and out of the mouth and “permanent" or bonded (fixed) retainers that are secured to the back of the front teeth. Dr. Robert Shpuntoff recommends the use of removable retainers nighttime for a lifetime.
Permanent Retainers
It is important to know that permanent retainers require extra daily care to keep the teeth and gums around the appliance clean and healthy.
It is not unusual for a patient with "permanent" retainers to complain that their teeth have shifted. Permanent retainers are not permanent and wear out.
When patients are given bonded “permanent” retainers, Dr. Robert Shpuntoff still recommends the use of removable retainers at night to minimize this problem.
Removable Retainers
Removable retainers come in two forms. One is the Hawley retainer, an acrylic based appliance with a single wire that sits in front of the teeth to maintain the corrections along with some small clasps to stabilize it in the mouth. The other type of removable retainer is a vacuform “invisible” retainer, which is often called an “Essix” retainer. This retainer looks similar to Invisalign* or clear aligners. It is custom made of a thin transparent plastic that is fabricated to precisely fit over the teeth and prevent any unwanted shifting. While a Hawley retainer has the advantages of being quite durable and easy to adjust, most patients prefer an “Essix” retainer which is less visible and can be easier to wear.
Retainers work best when they fit properly and are not wearing out. After your first 12 months of retainer visits, Dr. Shpuntoff recommends that you have visits at least once a year to review your retainers and orthodontic results.
Patient Stories
Tomo L. Very good managment. I don't need to wait for so long compare to other ortho clinic. Dr Robert is really kid friendly, efficient and detail oriented that patiently explained to me what the suituation is. I am really impressed as it is only the first visit. I didn't expect my daughter can able to do the model right away. He already knows what to do and shows me the picture and explained to me in my understanding knowledge. And Dr Robert is a funny man that made my daughter not scare it at all. Super recommended!!!
Hannah D. When I came to Dr Shpuntoff for treatment I was really desperate for help as my TMJ disorder had become severe. The pain was unbearable, making it hard to eat most foods and also making it hard to even talk without pain. You don’t realize how much you need your jaw for so many things until you can’t use it without horrible pain. I was also having terrible migraine headaches almost every day, and even earaches. When I lived in Florida, my dentist had told me they could not fix my jaw problems and “it’ll only get worse as you get... Read More
Ms 222 Excellent service! About two years ago I transferred orthodontists, since my old one told me I was done, even though I had gaps everywhere in my mouth. Upon my consultation, Dr.Shpuntoff made models of my teeth and explained all the issues that I had. During my treatment, he took the time to fix all the spaces and other issues, meanwhile my previous orthodontist told me it was not possible to fix it. The end result along with the steps and time that he took to correct everything was worth the wait and is why I would highly recommend Dr.Shpuntoff.
Debbie D. Dr Shpuntoff is my favorite dentist! I used to have horrible pain with tmj and under his care I don't have pain anymore! Highly recommend!!
Fabiola M. Excellent orthodontist. The best. My patients are happy with his services and so am I.
Joy S. My daughter Jillian C. had her braces done here and the whole experience was wonderful from the start to finally getting them all off. The staffs are great and what a beautiful clinic!
Matt L. Dr. Shpuntoff is an amazing orthodontist. I'm a mediocre patient who didn't wear their retainer after wearing braces in my early adolescence. I've been seeing Dr. Shpuntoff since I was about 12 years old. Treatment ended with perfect teeth. I went to college, got lazy with my retainers and ended coming back to get invisalign as an adult. The wait times have always been minimal during non-peak hours, and the receptionists are always friendly. The office is clean, the equipment is new and the office is aesthetically kid and adult friendly. Dr. Shpuntoff is knowledgeable of the field and accommodating in every sense, truly a 5 star orthodontist.
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