If you’ve made it to retainers, you’re doing a great job! That means you got through your braces or Invisalign treatment with Dr. Eric Hickman, and it was a success. You might wonder why our Hickman Orthodontics team has our Mainville and Liberty Township patients wear retainers. After all, your treatment’s over, right? Well, not exactly. Your braces or aligners may have gotten the job done. But now you have to protect (or more specifically, retain) your new smile. That’s why wearing one is important.
Why Teeth Try to Shift
As you know, your teeth moved during your treatment with Dr. Hickman. It happens because the constant force from your treatment helps your bones and ligaments change positions. Once that force goes away, the bone is still soft, and the “memory” fibers around each tooth try to snap back, like a stretched rubber band. It’s called “orthodontic drift.”
This rebound risk is highest in the first twelve months, but minor drifting can happen for years. A retainer from our team at Hickman Orthodontics applies just enough holding power to let new bone harden in the right places. Skipping wear, even for a few nights, allows gaps to reopen. Your teeth can revert to their old positions again. In short, retention treatment from our Mainville or Liberty Township team locks in all your hard work and truly keeps your smile in shape.
Clear (Essix) Retainer
Prefer something practically invisible? Our Hickman Orthodontics team crafts a clear retainer after braces from thin, medical-grade plastic molded to your new smile. It looks and feels like an Invisalign tray and disappears in photos, a big win for Mainville senior pictures or Liberty Township corporate Zoom calls.
Put it in at bedtime and remove it each morning before breakfast. Clear retention appliances are comfy, but they can warp under hot water or if left in a sunny car. They also need to be replaced every few years due to plastic fatigue. Our office stores your 3-D scan, so duplicates are quick and affordable. When lifestyle and aesthetics top the list, a clear retainer after braces might be your go-to choice.
Bonded (Fixed) Retainer
If you’re prone to misplacing keys, Dr. Hickman may recommend a bonded retention treatment. This slim stainless-steel wire is glued to the tongue side of your front teeth, most often from canine to canine. Because it stays in 24/7, you never worry about forgetting nightly wear, making it ideal for younger patients or busy college students at Miami University’s Voice of America campus. Flossing requires a threader or small interdental brush, and you’ll want a professional dental cleaning every six months to keep tartar off the wire. In return, a bonded retainer from Dr. Hickman delivers round-the-clock security to keep your smile in shape without daily decisions.
How Hickman Orthodontics Chooses Your Retainer
No two smiles or lifestyles match. Dr. Hickman considers your age, bite complexity, and personal habits before prescribing retention. A teen finishing phase-one braces may get a bonded lower wire plus a clear upper tray. Adult Invisalign graduates often stick with clear retainers that mimic their final aligner. During your debond appointment in Mainville or Liberty Township, the team explains wear schedules, shows cleaning demos, and answers the classic why wear a retention device after braces question in person.
Care & Cleaning Tips
Brush removable retention appliances with cool water and a drop of clear dish soap. Please don’t use hot water, as it can warp the plastic. Once a week, soak your appliance in a cleansing solution available at just about any local supermarket or drug store. Bonded wires need floss threading: slide floss under the wire, then sweep up and down each tooth. Store removable retention devices in a ventilated case. Never a napkin (it’s true, we’ve seen it!), which too often ends up in a trash can. Follow these habits and your retention device will happily keep your smile in shape for years.
What If I Forget to Wear It?
Missed a night? Put your retainer back in. You might notice the pressure feels different, and that’s ok. But if you skip a week, it may feel too tight or not sit properly. Call our team at Hickman Orthodontics right away. Catching a relapse early means a quick refit or minor wire adjustment. Wait too long, and shifting could require partial braces or additional aligners. Prompt action protects both your smile and your wallet.
FAQ: Life After Braces
Here are some of the most common questions Dr. Hickman gets from patients about why they need to wear their retention devices.
How long do I need nightly wear?
Plan every night for the first year. After that, Dr. Hickman may recommend that you wear it every other night.
Can I eat or drink with my device?
We don’t advise drinking anything other than water while you’re wearing your retainers. Please take them out before you eat anything.
Will my insurance cover replacement retention devices?
Check with your insurance company to find out the details of what they cover. Our Hickman Orthodontics team offers budget-friendly replacement pricing and family discounts.
Can I whiten my teeth inside the retainer?
Yes—clear trays double as whitening trays. Ask our Mainville or Liberty Township office for professional gel and fill only the front tooth wells to prevent gum irritation.
Do retention appliances ever need tightening?
You should be able to get by for quite a while without needing your devices tightened. But if something seems off or if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask Dr. Hickman.
Easy Retainers at Hickman Orthodontics
Retainers serve as long-term insurance for your orthodontic results. They’re an easy nightly routine that preserves your new smile and prevents costly retreatment. Our team at Hickman Orthodontics has offices in Mainville and Liberty Township. If you’d like to know more about retention treatment, or maybe you need to set up your first free consultation, go here. Dr. Hickman can’t wait to meet you.