Great Smiles
Great Smiles

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Orthodontic Retainers

Keeping Your Smile in Place

Retainers → to Retain
Your Beautiful New Smile

You did it—your braces or aligners are off, and your new smile is here! But before you go showing it off full-time, there’s one last (and very important) step: wearing your retainer.

At Great Smiles, we like to say: braces move your teeth, but retainers keep them there. Retainers help make sure all that hard work stays put, and your smile stays as straight and healthy as the day your treatment ended.

braces for teens
braces for teens

Why are Orthodontic Retainers for Teeth Important?

Your teeth naturally want to shift back to where they started—especially in the months right after treatment. Retainers:

  1. Prevent relapse (teeth moving out of place)
  2. Protect your investment in orthodontic care
  3. Help keep your bite stable as your jaw continues to grow and settle

Most patients wear their retainer full-time for the first few months, then transition to nighttime wear as directed. Some people wear retainers at night for years—and that’s totally normal! Every smile is different, and your Great Smiles orthodontist will give you a custom plan.

braces for teens

Types of braces for teens

Metal braces – Braces cost ($3000 – $7000)

You might recognize metal braces as the go-to for straightening smiles. But today’s metal braces for teens are lightyears ahead, offering more comfort and discretion than ever before.

Here’s how they work:

  • Small, stainless steel brackets are securely bonded to each tooth.
  • A thin, flexible wire is threaded through the brackets, gently guiding your teen’s teeth into their ideal positions.
  • Tiny elastics (available in a rainbow of colors!) hold the wire in place and add a fun touch.

Invisalign braces – Braces cost ($4000 – $7500)

For teens who want a straighter smile without the hassle of traditional braces, Invisalign braces for teens offers a clear advantage. These invisible braces for teens aligners gently move teeth into place, achieving results without the metal brackets and wires. Teens appreciate the freedom Invisalign Teen provides.

They can easily remove the aligners for eating, brushing, and special occasions, like sporting events or photos. At GreatSmiles, we use advanced scanning to create custom-made aligners for a comfortable and precise fit. Every one to two weeks, your teen will switch to a new set of aligners, gradually transforming their smile with confidence.

Ceramic braces – Braces cost ($4000 – $8000)

For teens who want a less noticeable option than metal braces, ceramic braces offer a clear advantage. Made from a tooth-colored ceramic material, they blend in better with your teen’s natural smile. These braces function similarly to metal braces, gently guiding teeth into the desired position.

Types of Retainers

Most orthodontists will use either clear, removable retainers for teeth or sometimes fixed retainers will be required or preferred, and these types are placed on the back side of the teeth.

Removable

These retainers are nearly invisible and fit snugly on the teeth, similar to an invisible aligner.

Fixed

Invisible from the otherwise, fixed retainers are a small wire bonded to the back of the teeth

Treat Your Teeth Right with Retainers

We want you to keep that beautiful smile for years to come! After orthodontic treatment is complete, each patient receives a plan for maintaining their smile using retainers. For removable retainers, it’s important to clean them daily and store safely. For fixed retainers, flossing tools and regular dental cleanings are key.

We’re here to guide you through every phase of your smile journey—including retention. If you’ve lost or damaged your retainer, or just have questions about keeping your results long-term, reach out to the Great Smiles team. We’re always happy to help.

Affording the Best Care

Our Great Smiles team works to find the best way to fit great dental care into your budget, with awesome payment options, maximized insurance benefits, and affordable solutions. Our FAQ pages have some answers to common questions about Invisalign or braces costs as well as dentist costs. Or, feel free to contact us for help. Plus, research shows that early dental visits can lower long-term costs, so we encourage families to come visit us at one of our five Great Smiles Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics locations.

Getting Started with Great Smiles

Patient Reviews

11

“The best place to bring your kids!!! Everyone is sooo patient and kind. They really do care about your child’s overall experience at the dentist. My kids have grown up in this practice and have absolutely no fear of the dentist. Their manner is amazing. All the hygienists are super sweet, gentle and kind.”

- Amy

10

“Everyone at Great Smiles is great. The doctors are awesome and provide great detail when speaking with you. They were able to relieve my daughter’s anxiety as she had a chip in her tooth. She had the biggest smile when she walked out to see me. Thank you for the care you take with your patients.”

- Carol

9

“My daughter needed braces and they were so accommodating. Super thankful for an orthodontist that is local and their staff is always so nice. They make it a priority to take their time to listen to any concerns. Just a wonderful experience all around. Definitely recommend to anyone who is looking to take their child for braces!”

- Diane

8

“Great Smiles is an amazing pediatric dentist practice. My three kids have grown up under the care of their doctors. It is so helpful to have multiple kids’ appointments at one visit. We’ve enjoyed the consistency of having the same staff involved in their care over the years (cleanings, etc.). They are so caring. I highly recommend this practice.”

- Lisa

7

“The staff were cheerful and professional during every interaction. My daughter not only felt comfortable going, but EXCITED to go. We have made the decision to start coming here permanently. They genuinely care about the kiddos they see and you can tell.”

- Crystal

6

“I started to have several issues with my teeth in my 50s and did not want traditional braces but with Invisalign I could get the results looking for without the hassle of braces. My experience at Great Smiles has been seamless, extremely helpful staff and Orthodontist exceeded my expectations and I am not even at the end of my journey. I would highly recommend this practice!”

- Donna

5

“Every aspect of my journey with them was exceptional! Truly. I was impressed with the practice at my first visit – their professionalism, knowledge, kindness…. But I leave their care even more amazed that they consistently delivered the highest level of service I have ever experienced in any medical practice. As a doctor, myself, that means a lot. Every visit I left their office feeling nurtured and grateful.”

- Dr. Laura

4

“I’m an adult patient and have never had braces before! Great Smiles is excellent! High-end technology, great kind staff and super super efficient. If you have put off getting braces…don’t. This place is very good at what they do!”

- Tom

3

“My kids love going to Great Smiles! The whole staff is so friendly, loving, and patient with children. They fit us in when my daughter had an emergency cavity that our family dentist couldn’t address, and we had such a great experience that we moved our kids over to their practice for all of their dental care. Highly recommend!”

- Sally

2

“My three kids and I have had a great experience at Great Smiles Orthodontics. As a mother, I appreciate Dr. Stephanie’s attention to detail. The staff is always welcoming, friendly, and very helpful. I certainly recommend them!”

- Jessica

1

“If you’re looking for a pediatric dentist, Great Smiles is the answer!! All three of my children are patients here. Super thankful for this amazing staff!!”

- Megan

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