Retain your new smile

Whichever type of braces in St John’s Wood we fit you with here at Aura Dental, you will need to wear a retainer afterwards to keep your teeth in their new positions. This may last a year or two, or it could be for the rest of your life.

We offer 2 types of retainers: fixed and removable. A fixed retainer has the advantage of being bonded in place. It can’t be removed, so if you, or your child, would struggle to remember to remove, clean and replace a retainer, this could be the way to go.

The retainer is bonded to the back of the teeth with one thin wire, so it isn’t visible when you speak or smile. You will know it’s there and be able to feel it with your tongue, but previous braces in St John’s Wood patients tell us that after a while, they get used to this and forget the retainer is there.

How does it stay in place you may ask? Our braces dentist uses a composite bonding material which they harden with a curing light. This fixing is so strong that only a dentist can remove it – there’s no chance of it suddenly falling out at an embarrassing moment.

If a significant gap in your teeth has been closed by braces in St John’s Wood, you may be advised that a bonded retainer is the way to go.

If you’re suitable for a removable device, these are also discreet and won’t be spotted by the average eye. They are made of thin, clear plastic and either fit over the whole arch or a group of teeth as necessary.

These are created by taking an impression of your teeth that is turned into a plaster cast. The cast is covered by a heated, thin sheet of plastic that is vacuum sucked over it. This forms your bespoke removable retainer.

The removable retainer needs to be cleaned and maintained to make sure no strays bits of food get stuck to it and that plaque doesn’t build up on the surface. The braces dentists here at Aura Dental can advise you on how to care for your retainer.