Lower Retainer
Bonded Lingual Retainer
A bonded lingual retainer is a form of retention utilizing a heavy wire, contoured accurately to the back of your lower front teeth and cemented directly to the inside surface of your lower eye teeth (canines), just as your braces were bonded to the outside. The material used to cement this type of retainer is the same material used to repair a fractured front tooth. The cement is a tooth colored material referred to as dental composite.
This retainer is absolutely the best method to maintain your beautiful smile and prevent the lower teeth from shifting. What makes the bonded lingual retainer such a great appliance is that, unlike a removable retainer, you cannot lose it because it is permanently attached.
These are the steps to properly care for your Bonded Retainer.
- The bonding material can break, therefore, you must not bite directly into anything hard such as suckers, ice or chew on hard objects against your retainer. The retainer should maintain itself under normal eating conditions.
- Incorrect biting can result in breakage and tooth movement can occur within a very short period of time. Call the office immediately if you notice your appliance is loose or if you notice any movement of your teeth.
Because the retainer is only cemented to the lower eye teeth, it is very easy to floss between each tooth by forming a loop around a tooth, passing the floss under the wire and flossing both sides of that tooth simultaneously. Our assistants will be happy to demonstrate this for you! - When brushing, be extra careful to clean the wire and the inside of your lower teeth.
- If your retainer becomes loose within the first year following the removal of your braces, there is no charge to re-cement the appliance. If the retainer should become completely detached, please do not throw the retainer away. The retainer is custom made for your teeth and there will be a lab charge of $175 to replace the appliance.
If you should have any questions about your retainer, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (770-751-1688).
