Hurray! Your braces are off! BUT you are not finished with treatment.

When we remove your braces, we will begin the retention stage of your treatment. The retention phase lasts for a minimum of 24 months. It takes quite a while for the teeth to stabilize in the bone. Your final orthodontic result depends on your retainers, so please protect the investment you’ve made in your smile.

Dr. Foley makes a variety of custom retainers. If you are offered one with an acrylic palate, you may be able to customize it with your favorite team’s logo, your name and phone number, or some other fun image.

Please remember to remove your retainer before brushing and then clean it well before placing it back in your mouth. A retainer may be small, but it is expensive to make and replace. When you take it out in the school cafeteria, store it in the carrying case we give you. Many patients wrap their retainers in a napkin and throw them out
by accident. Or they set them on their coffee table at home and the dog chews on them.

But that won’t be you! :)