SHARE SMILES.
SHOW CONFIDENCE.

CUSTOMISED RETAINER SYSTEM

Starsmiles white logo

SAY HELLO
TO YOUR
CONFIDENT
STARSMILE

Starsmiles customised, removable retainers are an essential part of keeping that smile you worked so hard for. They are easy to create, easy to order and easy to use. Made from a durable clear plastic material that fits over your teeth to keep them in place.

The retainers are comfortable and very easy to wear. The invisible retainers are flexible and bend to fit comfortably in your mouth, which makes them less noticeable when you talk or smile. The retainers will help to maintain teeth position for a long period of time.

Retainers ensure that the position of your teeth is preserved. Patients who stop wearing their retainers soon find themselves without that perfect smile. Avoid finding yourself back in treatment, costing you time and money. Wear Starsmiles removable retainers and keep that beautiful smile.

About Removable Retainers

Once your invisible aligner treatment is completed, the next step is called retention. Our bespoke retainers are utilised to hold your teeth in their new position until your bone, gums, and muscles adapt to the new teeth positions. You must wear your retainers as instructed, otherwise your teeth may move toward their original positions and the benefit of wearing your invisible aligners will be lost.

The time scale varies with each patient, in some cases, permanent retention maybe necessary or advisable. In these instances, thin metal wires are attached by your dentist to the inside surfaces of the anterior teeth either in addition to or instead of removable retainers.

INSTRUCTIONS

Clean Mouth.

Make sure your mouth is clean before you wear your retainers otherwise decay sets in with food and drinks debris left on the teeth.

Give It Time.

Your retainers will take some time to get used to but continue wearing them and persevere.

Line them up.

Line up the upper and lower retainer on the teeth and push in until a click can be heard.

Keep them clean.

Clean retainers with warm water and a soft toothbrush to remove any excess debris.

Maintain to Retain

After your teeth have been straightened, you must wear the retainers for 20-22 hours per day for 8 weeks (only remove for eating and drinking anything but water) and then wear them overnight for the rest of your life. We would advise you to order new retainers once a year so that the durability is not decreased that may affect the movement of the teeth and your perfect smile can be maintained.

Keep Sanitised

Once a week you can use Retainer Brite tablets to keep them clean and sanitised.

Storage and Sanitisation

Store the retainers in protective retainer case provided.

In Case For

If an aligner is lost or damaged contact Starsmiles and for a minimum charge, we will order another set of retainers for you from the scan records kept in our lab.

Need Support?

If you have any retainer issues, please do not hesitate to contact the Starsmiles team.

Retainer Production

Starsmiles retainers can be used during the ortho-restorative process and are customised for each patient using the same process used to make Starsmiles invisible aligners. Starsmiles retainers can be created by submitting an intra-oral scan.

When you order our retainers, a digital record is kept on file so that repeat orders, carried out yearly are faster and easier to produce in our labs. We use our state-of-the-art 3D AI technology to manufacture customised retainers and deliver them directly to your home.

Effects of Removable Retainers

Your speech may be different when you first start wearing the removable retainers. Practice speaking with the retainers on. Your speech should return to normal within a few days. To begin with you may produce more saliva and swallow more than usual. This is normal and should pass after a few days.

How long will I have to wear the Removable Retainers?

The only way to ensure your teeth cannot move is to wear your removable retainers on a part time basis for life.  If you stop wearing your retainers there is a high chance your teeth will move. Changes in the position of your teeth can continue throughout life and is part of the normal ageing process. The only way to have permanently straight teeth is to wear a retainer for the rest of your life at night.

Removable Retainer Tips

The retention period is an important part of your overall treatment and should not be neglected. Remember to wear them in your mouth, not in your pocket. Removable retainers will work when you follow our instructions. Retainers are easy to lose, so if you take them out remember to place them in your retainer case for safety.

We recommend replacing your retainers regularly (yearly) to avoid bacteria and keeping them fresh. There is nothing cleaner than a new retainer.

Timespan on the Wear of Removable Retainers

You are advised to wear your retainers for a period of 8 weeks full time (20-22 hours), after your teeth alignment treatment, after which you can drop to wearing them overnight for a lifetime. You need to remove your retainers for cleaning your teeth and for any contact sport for which a mouth guard is required. Ensure you clean your removable retainers every day using warm water and your toothbrush. You can purchase a retainer cleaning product to keep your retainers looking clean. We recommend Retainer Brite Tablets.

We recommend replacing your retainers yearly to avoid bacteria, keeping them fresh and maintaining its durability that may affect the movement of the teeth after wear and tear in the mouth.

Do I need to see my Dentist?

It is very important to visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and now you are wearing retainers, it is important for them to check your teeth for decay.

Brushing teeth

Take off the removable retainers to clean your teeth. It is important that you brush your teeth well for at least 2 minutes, twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste.

Do NOT use toothpaste to clean your retainers as it can roughen the retainers and make them change colour. You should also gently clean the retainer with a toothbrush and warm water. To further protect the teeth, use an alcohol-free fluoride mouth rinse daily at a different time to when you brush your teeth. Sugary snacks/drinks and poor cleaning of your teeth and retainers may lead to permanent damage to your teeth.

What do I do if I play Contact Sports?

You may need a new mouthguard now that you are wearing retainers. You should wear a mouthguard instead of your removable retainer when you play contact sports. This will also be the case if you take part in activities requiring a protective helmet such as skateboarding, horse riding etc. Remove your retainer for swimming as well. When not in your mouth, the retainer should be kept in a protective box so that it’s not damaged or lost.

What do I do if my retainer is Damaged or Lost?

Please call us 0n 0808 1753083 or email us on www.starsmiles.co.uk  letting us know what has happened and we will order you a new set of retainers. This needs to be done urgently as your teeth may move whilst you are not able to wear your retainers. You may be charged a fee for the replacement. We keep your digital scan on record and our state-of-the-art laboratory will print your 3D smile to create your bespoke retainers.

Important Things To Remember About Removable Retainers

  • Retainer wear is your personal responsibility, and it is a lifetime commitment.
  • Removable retainers or permanent retainers(wire) need to be worn for life after alignment of teeth to keep the teeth in place and aligned.
  • Please do not eat or drink with your removable retainer in place.
  • Contact Starsmiles as soon as possible if you damage or lose your retainer.
  • You may be charged a minimal fee for retainer replacement.
  • Brush your teeth for 2 minutes at least twice each day.
  • Please keep your oral hygiene to its highest standard by following regular check-ups with your dentist.

Please note

If you grind your teeth at night (bruxism), you may be offered a different style of retainer. Please let us know if that’s the case and we will customise the retainer to your needs.