Dental Retainers in Manhattan, NYC
Maintain your beautifully aligned smile with retainers in NYC. Schedule your consultation today to ensure long-lasting results and lasting confidence!
Protect Your Investment in Your Beautiful Smile
You finally have the straight teeth you’ve always dreamed of, but what now? You’ve invested your time and money into achieving your ideal new smile, and it’s time to focus on maintaining your results for years to come. Without proper retention, teeth shift back to their original positions, undoing your teeth straightening efforts.
Whether you completed treatment with braces or clear aligners, orthodontic retainers are key to preventing your teeth from shifting and protecting your investment. Understanding the types available, retainer wear schedules, and care requirements can make a world of difference in maintaining your straight teeth. Many patients don’t realize that even a few hours without wear can allow movement to begin.
At SmileWorks, we know that a straight smile requires ongoing protection. That’s why we offer high-quality, custom-fabricated retainers NYC to keep your teeth aligned long after orthodontic treatment. We use advanced technology to ensure your orthodontic retainers fit comfortably and remain durable. With proper guidance, maintaining your perfect smile has never been easier.
What are Dental Retainers?
Orthodontic retainers are custom-made appliances designed to keep teeth in proper position after orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign. These essential devices prevent teeth shift and maintain the results you worked hard to achieve.
At SmileWorks, we offer both fixed and removable retainers based on your unique dental and lifestyle needs. Some patients benefit from a bonded lingual retainer for extra security, while others prefer the flexibility of removable options.
Simply put, while braces and aligners straighten your teeth, retainers help maintain those results for lasting confidence. Schedule an appointment to find the right retention solution for your new smile!
Keep your beautiful smile perfectly aligned with custom-made orthodontic retainers—designed to preserve your results and long-term confidence!
Keep your smile beautifully aligned with custom-made dental retainers—designed to preserve your perfect results and long-term confidence!
Types of Dental Retainers We Offer
Hawley Retainers
The Hawley retainer features acrylic covering the roof of your mouth with wire across the front surfaces of teeth. This durable design is stronger than clear options and adjustable if minor movement occurs. The wire and acrylic construction makes it less likely to deform or break with proper care.
In our office, we primarily use these for young patients after early orthodontic treatment, as they can accommodate growing mouths and remain tight-fitting longer.
Essix Retainer (Clear Retainers)
Clear retainers, including Vivera retainers for Invisalign patients, cover every tooth precisely and are our preferred retention method. These virtually invisible appliances are discreet and comfortable for daily wear. Vivera retainers are specially fabricated using Invisalign’s advanced technology for superior fit.
For patients with grinding habits, we recommend a night guard on upper teeth combined with a regular clear retainer for lower teeth. This prevents damage and ensures your retainers remain effective. Clear options require extra care as they can be easily misplaced.
Fixed Retainer (Front Teeth Only)
A permanent retainer or bonded lingual retainer consists of a thin wire bonded to the back surfaces of front teeth. This fixed option provides continuous retention without requiring patient compliance. It’s beneficial for patients who started with significant crowding or spacing.
These bonded retainers require special cleaning techniques but offer the advantages of 24/7 retention. They function invisibly behind your teeth while preventing any shift in position.
Meet Dr. Jin Sup Shin and Our Expert Team
Trust your retainer care to award-winning orthodontist Dr. Jin Sup Shin, renowned for maintaining beautifully aligned smiles after teeth straightening treatment. Her expertise ensures your retainer is tailored to your unique bite, preserving your orthodontic results. As an adjunct professor at NYU, Dr. Shin stays current with retention innovations.
At our modern Midtown East office, we understand that maintaining your smile requires personalized care. Dr. Shin evaluates your specific needs to design custom orthodontic retainers that keep teeth in ideal position while ensuring comfort. Using state-of-the-art 3D imaging and durable materials, we provide high-quality retainers that fit seamlessly.
Keep your smile beautifully aligned with custom-made retainers—designed to preserve your perfect results!
Keep your smile beautifully aligned with custom-made dental retainers—designed to preserve your perfect results and long-term confidence!
How Should I Care for My Dental Retainer?
Taking steps to care for your retainer can help extend its life and keep your teeth healthy. Here are some key steps you should consider to help care for your retainer and ensure it remains effective and lasts for years:
- Take your retainer out to eat and drink
- If you have a fixed retainer, consider buying a floss threader to help make flossing easier
- Always store your retainer in its case when not in use
- Gently brush your retainer daily to prevent bacteria growth
- Soak your retainer in a retainer-cleaning solution weekly
- Avoid using harmful chemicals like alcohol or bleach on your retainer
- Don’t leave your retainer in a hot place like a car
- Be gentle when inserting and removing your retainer
- Always brush and floss your teeth before putting your retainer on
- Speak to your orthodontist if you have any concerns or issues with your retainer
- Avoid hard or sticky foods if you have a fixed retainer
At SmileWorks, we will provide you with specific instructions on the best care practices for your retainer. If you lose your retainer or it breaks, contact us as soon as possible to get a replacement to ensure your teeth stay straight and don’t have the chance to start shifting out of alignment.
What Are The Benefits of Dental Retainers?
Dental retainers provide numerous essential benefits for maintaining oral health and preserving orthodontic treatment results. Here are the key advantages:
Maintain Your Perfect Smile
Retainers are essential for maintaining alignment achieved through treatment. They hold teeth in new positions while bone tissue rebuilds and stabilizes. This prevents return to original positions, protecting your investment and ensuring your beautiful smile stays straight. Even wearing retainers for just a few hours daily can make a difference.
Enhanced Oral Health
Regular retainer wear promotes better oral health by keeping teeth properly aligned for easier cleaning. Correct positioning reduces areas where bacteria accumulate, lowering risk of cavities and gum disease. This contributes to better overall hygiene and health throughout your lifetime.
Comfort & Functionality
Beyond retention, these appliances provide functional benefits. They can improve breathing, enhance speech, and prevent grinding at night. Many users find retainers reduce jaw pain by maintaining proper bite alignment and supporting correct tongue position.
Long-Term Investment
The advantages of wearing retainers make them a wise investment. By preventing shift, you avoid future orthodontic treatment, saving time and money. Retainers help remain confident in your smile, preserve facial symmetry, and provide lifetime protection when used as directed. The small effort of nightly wear prevents the need to replace your entire orthodontic result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Full-time for 4-6 months, then nightly wear indefinitely. This schedule ensures your teeth remain in their new positions while allowing bone tissue to stabilize around them. Consistent wear is crucial for maintaining your orthodontic results.
Three types: fixed, clear removable, and Hawley retainers. Fixed retainers are bonded behind your teeth, clear removable retainers fit like invisible aligners, and Hawley retainers combine wire and acrylic for durability.
Your teeth will shift back to their original positions. This movement can begin within days of not wearing your retainer and may eventually undo all your orthodontic treatment results.
Brush daily with mild soap and lukewarm water. Additional care includes weekly soaking in a cleaning solution and avoiding hot water that could warp the material. Never use toothpaste as it’s too abrasive.
Yes, they improve breathing, speech, and grinding habits. Retainers can also help with jaw alignment, reduce snoring, and prevent future dental problems by maintaining proper tooth positioning.
Always in its protective case when not in use. Keep away from heat sources, pets, and never wrap in napkins – this prevents damage, loss, and maintains hygiene.
Keep Your Smile Straight With a Custom Retainer From SmileWorks
At SmileWorks, maintaining your perfect smile should be simple and stress-free. That’s why we provide high-quality, custom-fit retainers designed to keep your teeth aligned for years to come. Whether you need a new retainer, a replacement, or expert guidance on the best option for your lifestyle, our experienced team in Midtown East, Manhattan, is here to help. With advanced dental technology and a patient-focused approach, we ensure your retainer fits comfortably and lasts so you can confidently enjoy your straight smile.
Don’t let your teeth shift after all your hard work. Protect your smile with a custom retainer from SmileWorks. Investing in a high-quality retainer now can save you from future orthodontic treatment. Call us today at (646) 722-1177 or schedule your free consultation through our contact form.
Visit Us
We’re conveniently located in Midtown East, Manhattan. Find us on the 8th floor of the Grand Central Professional Building. Plenty of nearby parking and public transportation options are available.
- 30 Central Park South Suite #11D New York, NY 10019
- 646-722-1177
- Tues-Fri 9am-6:30pm 1st, 3rd Saturdays 9am-2pm
