If you want to protect your smile and keep your amazing results after orthodontic treatment you’ll need to wear a retainer, plain and simple.
Because your jaws never stop growing or aging, and your teeth never stop shifting, there will be natural changes that continue to occur with time. Retainers help minimize or eliminate these changes.
Properly designed retainers are constructed to do two primary things:
Because not all retainers are created equal, making sure you’re purchasing a properly designed retainer that achieves both is very important for the health of your smile.
Clear plastic retainers, which are what Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics uses and primarily recommends, allow the user to have the most long-term benefits and flexibility from their retainers.
Clear plastic retainers offer therapeutic benefits in addition to holding the teeth and bite in place. Such benefits include doubling as oral health trays – allowing for bleaching, fluoride to rest in the tray overnight for better results. Also, popping in your clear retainer after teeth brushing allows all that “good stuff” to stay snug against the teeth and gums overnight and have a beneficial impact.
Clear plastic retainers also offer the space and benefits to complete oral hygiene practices without issue, avoiding buildup on and around your teeth and gums.
Bonded retainers are what people are commonly known as “fixed” or “permanent” retainers, and may be recommended for some patients as a supplement to their clear retainers. They are bonded to the teeth, but chew one crunchy pretzel and it can pop off – making it anything but permanent.
These types of retainers are typically bonded behind the teeth, use a wire, and can make oral hygiene a bit more difficult in the flossing/brushing department.
Because these types of retainers are fixed, they are not removable – unless removed by your dental or orthodontic professional or through accidental or forced displacement. And so, how long they last will depend on the wearer’s habits and behaviors.
It’s also important to note something many people are unaware of: bonded or fixed retainers should be used as a supplement to removable retainers – they should only be used to hold stubborn areas in place that require 24-hour retention and maintenance. Bonded retainers do not hold the bite in place – only the teeth – so not using a bonded retainer in conjunction with a removable retainer will still allow for shifts to happen.
There are two primary reasons people stop wearing their retainers:
If you lose, break or have issues with your retainer you should contact Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics immediately. Spending even a few days without your retainer can lead to major shifts and changes can happen to your teeth and bite. It is imperative you reach out and request another retainer to protect your smile (and investment).
Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics’ Retainers for Life program is designed to maintain your smile at an affordable price. It also takes into account that broken and lost retainers occur more often than people might think.
At Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics, all patients receive an initial set of retainers at the completion of their orthodontic treatment, along with 3D models of their teeth.
When enrolling in our Retainers for Life program before, during or after treatment, you’re immediately protecting your orthodontic investment for what will certainly happen in the future. This way, if a retainer breaks, gets tossed out on the lunch tray or gets chewed up by the dog – you’re covered, paying only a small copay out of pocket.
Note: This program also works for patients who may have been previously treated by a different orthodontist – in or out of our market. We’re happy to help protect your smile, too.
What’s included in the Retainers for Life Program upgrade:
Not included in this program:
Ready to chat with a team member about Retainers for Life? Fill out the form below and include “Retainers for Life” in the areas of concern field – or direct purchase here.
"We recently moved to the Chesapeake area and needed an orthodontist that could continue treatment for our two kiddos. Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics made our transition seamless and even provided an Invisalign option. The staff is amazing and the facilities are top notch!"
"This is an OUTSTANDING team of dental professionals. We are greeted with smiles every time and wait less than 5 minutes to be called back for our appointment. This is EXCEPTIONAL when compared to the usual, long waiting room wait in MANY practices. The changing seasonal themes is always surprising and enjoyable. THIS IS NOT THE USUAL MEDICAL FACILITY OFTEN VISITED. Doctors Frey and Hatcher are personable, very friendly and HAPPY to work with their patients. Theirs is the most pleasant office to visit and this team is competent and approachable all the time. I'd GIVE THEM A 10 if I could!"
"We absolutely LOVE Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics. I have 3 daughters who went through braces for about ten years (2002-2012). Now, I am wearing Invisalign. They have been consistently professional and offer the very best care. I highly recommend them."
"We love Dr. Hatcher and Dr. Frey! They are super thorough when you go in for an evaluation, and give you pricing up front. I visited a different local orthodontist, who wouldn’t give a price until after we started... they are detailed in the plan and the outcome is terrific! It is a wonderful practice with an amazing team! I highly recommend them!!"
"I can't tell you how astonished I was with the customer service, everyone here is affectionate, and kind. I feel respected and important here. I am a current patient with crowding problems; Invisalign was what I went with because It doesn't seem too much of a chore to keep up with rather than braces. Thanks Dr. Hatcher for your stunning care; I know I'm in good hands and can't wait to see a different smile in the near future. I hope if you've read this far you choose to come here even if you live far away; it's definitely worth the drive. I would recommend this to anyone who is in need of an orthodontist."
"Got my braces off today after 29 months of wearing them. When I came to Dr. Hatcher back in June 2017, my teeth looked like they were beat by Negan's bat, Lucille, from TWD. Today, I am a brand new person that has been cured of my zombie teeth apocalypse! Thank you Dr Hatcher, Shawna, and the rest of the staff! Your hard work has paid off and will not be forgotten. I will think of you every time I smile."
"Five stars I scheduled a consult after seeing photos of Dr Frey’s cases with early development utilizing Invisalign. I also felt orthodontics should start early not late and I wanted the best for my 5yr old twins. I was blown away with Dr Frey’s clinical skills, understanding of sleep apnea in children, his updated technology and ability to do digital scans instead of impressions totally shows his education and expertise, but my biggest compliment was how well they treated my family. It’s care that is surpasses any practice I’ve seen. Thank you for educating us and giving us a sound treatment plan."
"Dr. Hatcher is wonderful and the staff is exceptional! We have had a very positive experience here with both of our daughters. They go above and beyond and I recommend them to anyone who is looking for an orthodontist. They make you feel like family and the kids love going to their appointments. State of the art technology is used to transform smiles from good to great!"
"Dr. Scott Frey is an amazing Orthodontist and very caring. The most important thing which many people don't understand is it's not just straightening your teeth but knowing your bite is right for the lifetime of functioning. It's well worth the investment and time to do it right, so it won't cost you even more down the road. I give him 5 stars!"
"What a great experience! We were referred to Hatcher & Frey Orthodontics by our pediatric dentist’s office and they are very helpful and professional. Couldn't have had a better team to help my now 13-year-old achieve her perfect smile."