Keep your results for life

Finishing active orthodontic treatment is a milestone, but it is not the end of the story. Teeth have a natural tendency to drift back toward their original positions, a process known as relapse. Retainers are the appliances that hold your teeth in their new, corrected positions and protect the time, effort and investment you put into achieving your smile. The fibres and tissues that surround each tooth take time to settle around its new location, and retainers are what hold everything steady while that biological remodelling completes.

At AlignTech we produce retainers from precise digital records, so each one fits your teeth exactly. Using your iTero scan, we manufacture retainers that seat accurately and comfortably, and because your scan is stored digitally, replacement retainers can be made quickly if one is ever lost or damaged — without the need for new impressions. That stored 3D record is effectively a permanent backup of your finished smile, ready to reproduce the same precise fit years down the track.

Types of retainers

We offer both removable clear retainers and fixed bonded retainers, and we recommend the right option based on your case, your original treatment and your lifestyle. Clear retainers are discreet and easy to remove for cleaning, while fixed retainers — a thin wire bonded behind the teeth — work quietly in the background without any effort on your part. Many patients do best with a combination: a bonded wire to hold the front teeth permanently, paired with a clear retainer worn over the top at night for whole-arch stability.

• Custom-fitted from precise 3D digital scan data
• Clear removable retainers — discreet and easy to clean
• Fixed bonded retainers for effortless, around-the-clock hold
• Fast replacements made from your stored digital records
• Guidance on wear schedules to keep teeth stable long term

How to wear your retainers

Most patients begin with full-time or near-full-time wear immediately after treatment, then transition to nightly wear as their teeth stabilise. We will give you a clear, personalised schedule and review your fit at follow-up appointments. Consistent retainer wear is the single most reliable way to keep your results looking exactly as planned for the long term. Skipping nights here and there is the most common reason teeth begin to creep, so building retainer wear into your bedtime routine is the simplest insurance you can give your new smile.

Caring for your retainers

Removable retainers should be cleaned gently each day and stored in their case when not in use, away from heat that could warp them. We recommend bringing them to check-ups so we can inspect both the appliance and your teeth. Because your records are digital, ordering a spare set for travel or peace of mind is simple and quick. Keeping a backup set means a lost or cracked retainer never turns into weeks of unwanted shifting while you wait for a replacement to be made.

Whether you have just completed treatment or need a replacement set, we can help you protect your smile. Book an appointment and we will scan, recommend and produce retainers tailored precisely to your teeth. We will also set you up with a realistic long-term wear plan so the result you invested in stays exactly as you remember it.