St. Joseph & Maryville Retainers
Protect Your
Healthy Smile
Retainers at Noyce Orthodontics help maintain your results long after your braces or aligners come off. Wearing your retainer as directed keeps your smile looking its best.
Retainer Options in St. Joseph & Maryville
Wearing a retainer is the key to keeping your smile in place after braces or clear aligner treatment. At Noyce Orthodontics, Dr. Matthew R. Noyce offers several types of retainers to match your needs and lifestyle.
Each option is designed to help prevent shifting and protect your results long-term. We’ll help you choose the right retainer so your smile stays right where it should be.
Essix Retainers
Essix retainers at Noyce Orthodontics are clear, custom-made trays designed to keep your teeth in place after treatment. They fit snugly over your teeth and offer a comfortable, low-profile way to maintain your smile.
How Essix Retainers Work
We create Essix retainers using a digital model of your teeth, so they fit just right. Once in place, they hold your teeth where they belong after treatment.
Since they’re removable, you can take them out when needed and wear them as directed to keep your smile on track.
Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers offer a proven, long-lasting solution for maintaining your smile. Their durable construction and adjustable design make them a flexible option for long-term use.
How Hawley Retainers Work
Hawley retainers use a molded base and a thin metal wire to hold your teeth in place after treatment. They’re custom-made to fit your smile and keep your alignment stable over time.
Because they can be adjusted, Dr. Noyce can make small changes if your teeth begin to shift. This helps extend the life of your retainer and keep your smile on track.
In-House Retainers
We design and create in-house retainers specifically for your smile. By making them in our office, we’re able to provide a quicker, more convenient experience.
How In-House Retainers Work
We start with a digital scan of your teeth to capture an accurate model of your smile. Using in-office technology, we then create your retainer for a precise, custom fit.
Because everything is done on-site, you can often receive your retainer more quickly and replace it faster if needed. This helps keep your smile on track without unnecessary delays.
Fixed Retainers
Fixed retainers at Noyce Orthodontics are a permanent option that holds your teeth in place after treatment. They’re bonded to the back of your teeth, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to wear them.
How Fixed Retainers Work
Fixed retainers use a thin wire bonded to the back of your front teeth to keep them in place. Because they’re attached, they provide continuous support without needing to be removed or worn on a schedule.
Dr. Noyce may recommend a fixed retainer for certain cases, often for the lower front teeth. When needed, it’s typically paired with a removable retainer to maintain full alignment.
Phase 1 Retainers
After Phase 1 treatment, a retainer may be needed to keep your child’s smile on track. These retainers help maintain early results as their teeth and jaws continue to develop.
How Phase 1 Retainers Work
These retainers help maintain alignment and support proper jaw positioning after Phase 1 treatment. Appliances like a Twin Block may be used to guide growth and keep development on track.
With consistent wear, they help preserve results until Phase 2 treatment begins.
Retainer Care Tips
Your smile doesn’t stop changing when treatment ends. Thankfully, retainers help keep everything in place. Taking care of your retainer and wearing it as directed will help protect your results for the long run.
Follow these simple guidelines to keep your smile on track:
- Wear your retainer as directed, typically whenever you’re at home unless we tell you otherwise. Remove it when eating, brushing, swimming, or playing contact sports.
- Bring your retainer to follow-up visits so we can check the fit and make sure everything stays on track.
- Always store your retainer in its case when you’re not wearing it to prevent loss or damage.
- Contact our office if your retainer feels loose, cracked, or doesn’t fit properly.
- If you lose your retainer, call us as soon as possible—waiting too long can allow your teeth to shift.
- Clean your retainer daily using a toothbrush and warm (not hot) water to keep it fresh and clear.
- Practice speaking out loud while wearing your retainer to help your mouth adjust more quickly.
- Keep your retainer away from heat, including hot water, hot cars, and laundry machines, to avoid warping.
- Treat your retainers with care, and they’ll last as long as you need them to during your retention phase.
Retainers FAQs
Still have questions about what retainers in St. Joseph and Maryville are, what they do, and how you need to keep and maintain them? Browse our frequently asked questions below for helpful tips.
