Yay! You’ve been flossing, brushing, wearing your rubber bands and coming to all your appointments and the day is finally here! Your smile is beautiful and your braces are coming off!
What now?
On the day you get your braces off, you will receive a little goodie bag filled with the sugary, sticky treats you’ve been avoiding. We will also want to take some pictures, and you may want to share images of your new smile with friends.
You will receive a clear, plastic retainer to wear at all times for the first three months. It is extremely important to follow recommendations for wearing your retainer in order to prevent your teeth from shifting.
Throughout the next year, you will have a series of “retention” appointments spaced every three months apart. These are quick visits used for checking in and making sure things are going well. At each visit, the recommended use of your retainer will decrease slightly, until you are only wearing your retainer at night. At the end of your retention visits, you are officially graduated and do not need to schedule any more appointments. You must continue wearing your retainer indefinitely at nights, however. If you lose or break your retainer, you can purchase a new one.