We take your health seriously!

Do you ever wonder about the sterilization and
infection control policies of your doctor offices?
Well, we would like to tell you about our practices.
In addition to following OSHA guidelines we hire
an outside firm, Total Medical Compliance, to
train and evaluate our protocols. At our most recent
evaluation in February, we were given a
“Clean Bill of Health!”

Calling all Artists!

Our Calendar Contest is back and we are on the hunt for new fabulous talent!

17 days until the Ipad has a new home!

It is almost time for us to pick a winner for our Ipad contest! Keep up the hardwork on Facebook, writing Google reviews and sending friends in to see us. All that work is going to pay off for a very special person!

Do you know why your Retainer is important?

Once we have removed your braces, it's easy to think all the work is done and your teeth need little further attention. But don't underestimate the importance of a retainer. Take this quick quiz to find out exactly why a retainer is important, and more:

1. A retainer is more of a formality than a necessity.
A. True
B. False

2. When should I wear my retainer?
A. As often as my doctor tells me to
B. I should wear it all the time to speed up my treatment

3. How should I clean my retainer?
A. Toothpaste and a brush
B. As long as I brush and floss my teeth, I won't need to wear my retainer
C. A cleaner made specifically for retainers

4. Using my retainer properly will prevent the need to wear braces again.
A. True
B. False


SO, how did you do?
Answers:

1. The answer is B- False. Because a retainer is removable, it is easy to think of it as being less important that your permanent braces were. The truth is that all the work accomplished by your braces could be for nothing without a reatiner. Your braces actively moved your teeth into their proper alignment, but a retainer holds your teeth in place and allows them to settle into position next to eachother.

2. The answer is A- As often as my doctor tells me. We set up a treatment plan tailored to you and your teeth, and every set of retainer instructions in unique, just as each of our patients is unique. We will determine how often you must wear your retainer depending on the particulars of your situation.

3. The answer is A or C- Toothpaste and a brush OR a special-made reatiner cleaner: it depends on the type of retainer you have. Make sure to clean your retainer atleast twice everyday. Don't clean with soap and water- you don't want soap in your mouth! If you use either a Hawley or bonded retainer you should clean it the same way you clean your teeth, by brushing it thoroughly with toothpaste. If you use an Essix retainer we recommend you clean it with a product such as SoncBrite or Reatiner Brite, both of which are made just for this purpose.

4. The answer is A- True. Your braces worked to move your teeth into place and a retainer compliments them by keeping those teeth in order. If you do not use your retainer as prescribed, you risk letting your teeth once again shift out of place.

Questions about your retainer? Call us!
Valeriano Othodontics- 704-364-6544