Maintaining Your Smile with Retainers
Our team at Alrez Family Dentistry is dedicated to maintaining the progress and success you have had after your dental procedures are complete. Whether for comfort, to protect your teeth, or to maintain correct alignment – we provide retainers and night guards to ensure your beautiful smile lasts a lifetime.
So, you have the perfect smile – now what? You dedicated your time and your money to getting a smile you can be confident wearing – so don’t let that go to waste! When your Invisalign® treatment is complete, you need to wear a retainer nightly to successfully maintain correct spacing and appropriate alignment.
Even if you had braces or another orthodontic treatment years ago but don’t have a replacement retainer, we can help!
Types of Retainers
Not all smiles are created equal – and neither are retainers! Here are two exceptional options to help keep your teeth straight for life:
Vivera Retainers
Invisalign® Vivera retainers are clear, plastic retainers designed to maintain teeth that have been aligned using metal braces, Invisalign aligners, and other clear aligners alike. They are thicker than Invisalign aligners because they are designed for long-term use. A single set can last for several years when cared for properly. Vivera retainer material is at least 30% stronger and twice as durable as other leading clear retainer materials. They are custom fit for your smile, with your comfort in mind. Vivera retainers can also accommodate lingual bars/wires, missing teeth that require an artificial tooth, and bite ramps.
By using state-of-the-art technology in both design and manufacturing, Memotain delivers lingual retainers that are tailored precisely to meet the individual requirements of every patient. Memotain retainers are created with computer-aided manufacturing process leading to the control of optimal placement and a contoured fit. The memory-based metal helps maintain its shape integrity and as a result are much thinner and more comfortable than conventional retainers. Retainers are put through an electropolishing process, smoothing and rounding the edges of the retainer ensuring a comfortable fit.
Custom Night Guards in Glen Mills
Grinding and clenching your teeth at night while sleeping is called sleep bruxism and a large percentage of us do it so often we are at risk of jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth, and other problems. Anxiety, stress or tension, consuming alcohol and caffeinated beverages as well as tobacco products, abnormal alignment of teeth, and sleep problems are just some of the causes.
During your dental exam, our dental assistants and Dr. Alrez will look for teeth that are worn down, fractured or chipped, or any breakdown of dental fillings and crowns. Routinely, we see that the upper and lower teeth will fit together like a piece of a puzzle, an indication that significant wear occurred from bruxism.
Signs You May Be Grinding Your Teeth
Do either you or your sleeping partner make unusual grinding sounds while sleeping? It may be hard to know whether or not you grind your teeth, so here are some other signs:
- Tooth sensitivity
- Tenderness in facial muscles
- Popping/clicking jaw joints
- Ringing in the ears
- Frequent headaches or migraines
What’s Right for Your Smile
The only way to know whether or not you could benefit from a custom night guard or a retainer is to schedule an appointment with our team at Dr. Alrez Family Dentistry. Let us help you live your life with your best smile today!
