Clear aligners and retainers share some similarities, but patients often feel they are dealing with two distinctly different stages of treatment when transitioning between them. Today, One Love Orthodontics will give you some tips for maintaining a straight smile after clear aligners.
What Exactly is Retention?
Retention is the phase that follows active orthodontic treatment, focusing on preserving your excellent results. This vital stage ensures that your teeth remain in their new positions and do not revert to their original alignment.
Let’s delve deeper into what retention deals with:
- Retention Devices: After completing your active treatment with clear aligners, Dr. Dayan will provide you with custom-fabricated retainers. These may be fixed (attached to the back of your teeth) or removable (made of plastic or wire). Retainers are crucial for helping to stabilize your teeth while the surrounding bone and tissues adjust to their new positions.
- Importance of Compliance: It’s really essential to wear your retainers as directed to prevent your teeth from shifting back and to protect your treatment results. Avoid creating your own schedule or stopping use prematurely. You worked super hard to get to this point—keep up the good work!
- Duration of Retention: The duration for wearing retainers varies by individual. Initially, you might need to wear them full-time, eventually transitioning to night-time use. Our team will provide a personalized schedule based on your needs.
- Regular Check-ups: Post-treatment appointments with Dr. Dayan are important to monitor the stability of your teeth and ensure your retainers fit properly. We will adjust your retention plan as needed to keep your results in place.

FAQs About Retention
Q: Can I eat with my retainer in?
No—you should remove your retainer before eating or drinking anything other than water. Food particles can become trapped in the retainer, potentially affecting your oral hygiene. And when you do eat, still try to be mindful of excess sugar, which can accelerate decay.
Q: Will I need to wear retainers for the rest of my life?
Most of our patients continue to wear their retainers for years after treatment, and you may need to use them part-time indefinitely. Our One Love Orthodontics team will advise you on the best approach for your specific situation.
Q: What if I lose or damage my retainer?
If you lose or damage your retainer, always contact our office immediately. We can provide guidance on the next steps or arrange for a replacement to help maintain your treatment results. It’s important not to delay when this happens!
Maintaining Your Results
What practices can you adopt to maintain your results after using clear aligners? The secret weapon is to follow the instructions provided by our One Love Orthodontics team and Dr. Dayan diligently. Here are some additional tips for both active treatment and retention phases to support your long-term success:
- Adhere to Our Advice: Follow all recommendations for wearing your aligners as directed. Skipping appointments can significantly delay your progress, too.
- Use an Electric Toothbrush: An electric toothbrush helps out with cleaning your teeth more effectively, which is crucial for preventing issues that could affect your clear aligner treatment.
- Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene: Keeping up with excellent oral hygiene practices is essential throughout your treatment and into the retention phase. Brush and floss regularly to avoid cavities and gum disease, which can disrupt treatment and affect your results.
- Report Any Issues Promptly:If you encounter any issues with your aligners, contact us right away. We want to nip problems in the bud whenever we can, since oral conditions can often quickly worsen without patients being aware.
- Attend All Appointments: Make sure to attend all scheduled appointments during your active treatment and retention phase. These visits are important for monitoring progress and making any necessary adjustments to your overall treatment plan. You can also take advantage of virtual appointments with Dr. Dayan when you’re busy.
- Follow Up on Any Necessary Adjustments: If our team suggests additional adjustments or changes to your treatment plan, ensure they are carried out promptly.

A Clear Success
We hope this blog has underscored the crucial role you play in your treatment and provided you with a clearer understanding of what to expect once your active clear aligner treatment is complete.
Remember, every patient is unique, and we appreciate these individual differences! Our wonderful Brooklyn community has shared valuable feedback regarding the quality of our care. Whether you’re about to embark on an orthodontic journey for the first time, or you’ve been a patient for a while, we look forward to seeing you in the office!