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Orthodontic Retainers 101: What You Need to Know

WHAT IS AN ORTHODONTIC RETAINER?

Orthodontic retainers are removable dental devices that are custom made to fit over your teeth to help maintain the position of your teeth after orthodontic treatment.

The most common types of retainers an orthodontist prescribes after treatment are:

 

Permanent retainers:  This style is bonded to the back of your teeth, so you can’t remove them.  You may prefer this style if you want them to be invisible when you smile, but they can be more difficult to clean around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hawley retainers:  This style is made of colorful acrylic and wire molded to your mouth.  Because they are removable, they are convenient and easy to clean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essix retainers:  This style is made of transparent plastic molded to the unique shape of your teeth. They are virtually invisible and removable, making them a very popular choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHO WEARS A RETAINER?

Someone who has had their teeth aligned with braces or aligners wears a retainer.  Retainers are typically the final phase of orthodontic treatment and help ensure that your teeth stay in their new position.

Once you have completed orthodontic treatment and are wearing a retainer, you will still return to your orthodontist periodically for checkups.  Sometimes during these appointments, the orthodontist makes adjustments, such as bending or trimming wires for increased comfort and to maintain a good fit.

HOW LONG IS A RETAINER USED?

The length of time you will wear a retainer depends on your specific course of treatment.  Often times a permanent retainer is in place indefinitely, or you may opt to replace it with a removable style at some point.

Your orthodontist will encourage you to wear your retainer for as long as you want to maintain your treatment results throughout your lifetime.  They will usually suggest you wear a removable style close to 24 hours per day for the first 3-6 months and then during sleeping hours only thereafter.

RETAINER PRECAUTIONS

The following precautions are recommended to enhance the lifespan and ensure the efficacy of your retainer:

  • Wear the retainers as your orthodontist instructs.
  • Avoid eating or drinking anything other than water while wearing removable retainers.
  • Be careful while removing your retainers. Use your right and left index fingers and pull down at the near your premolars on both sides simultaneously.
  • Store your retainers in their case when you are not wearing them.
  • Consult your orthodontist if the retainers become uncomfortable.

CARING FOR YOUR RETAINER

Retainer care is fairly simple.  Follow your orthodontist’s instructions for cleaning and care of your retainer.  Normally this will include brushing the retainer daily with tepid water and mild antibacterial soap using a soft bristle toothbrush.  Soaking your retainer in an approved effervescent cleanser once a week or so may also be recommended.  Removable retainers should be kept away from all heat sources including, but not limited to, hot water, direct sunlight, hot car, heat vents, stoves, and so on, to avoid deformation.

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A tree for every smile!

We are so excited to announce our commitment to planting trees in Oregon on behalf of our patients!  We have partnered with One Tree Planted to make this happen.

Parkside will plan a tree for every smile we help create.  We envision a beautiful forest of Parkside smiles.  You can feel good that when you start treatment at Parkside, we are giving back to the earth. That should make everyone smile!

 

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parkside orthodontics animated logo with tan background

Big news!

Big news! After over 15 years, we are excited to announce our new look! As our office continues to grow and evolve, we wanted to update our logo and brand to reflect those changes. We will always love our “happy tree family” logo, but we are so thrilled to reveal the new face of Parkside.

As you can see, we love our trees! The Parkside tree has been updated to a cleaner and more modern look. We feel this reflects the way we constantly strive to provide the most updated and modern treatment with a personal and gentle touch. As the Parkside tree grows upward, it demonstrates that we will continue to look for ways to improve every facet of what we do. While we are very proud of what we already do right now, we also embrace change when it helps our patients.

Growth.
A central theme of our brand.
But how have we grown?

– Growing our technology: Our advanced 3D imaging means more comfortable appointments, more accurate treatment and better fitting appliances. Plus, it is better for the environment because it generates much less waste and eliminates driving trips to and from our dental lab.

– Growing our digital communications: Our digital communication allows us to reach you in an efficient, convenient and private way. You can gather information and get your questions answered from the comfort of your home. Less paper = less waste too!

– Growing trees: Yes, you read that right. We are so proud to announce our partnership with One Tree Planted™, a non-profit organization that plants tree. We plant 1 tree in Oregon for every smile we help create!

– Growing beautiful, healthy smiles: Ok, that one isn’t new….but that is our most important mission!

So what ISN’T new?

– People come first: You can feel the difference in our collaborative approach to your healthcare. We offer a low-pressure, informative environment where patients of all ages are listened to and included in their healthcare decisions.

– Board-Certified specialist care: Dr. Kuperstein is a Board-Certified specialist in Orthodontics with over 17 years of experience. Most orthodontists are not board-certified, but Dr. Kuperstein has gone the extra mile to demonstrate her knowledge and clinical skills.

– One location: Parkside is the ONLY orthodontic office in the central eastside of Portland that has one location. You always know where to find us, and the team is always the same. We feel this helps us focus on our community and provide the most consistent customer service and patient care.

– Healthy Smiles Made with Heart: It might be our “new” official motto, but we feel that this has always been part of who we are. Making healthy and beautiful smiles is near and dear to our hearts and we strive to provide the highest quality of treatment in the most caring way.

Thank you for continuing to grow with us!

Dr. Rebecca Kuperstein, DDS MPH MS

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Important Partial Re-Opening Notice for Our Patients

Dear Parkside Orthodontic Community,

As many of you may already know, on 4/14/2020, Governor Kate Brown announced new public health framework for resuming non-urgent, elective dental procedures for providers who are able to meet the new requirement for COVID-19 safety and preparedness, with specific guidelines issued by Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority for restarting slowly and reassessing every 2 weeks. This excellent new development means we are able to begin phasing back into a very light volume of routine patient care and limited staff size, while still meeting the new requirements.

First, we want to assure you that your health and safety, as well as that of our team members, is always our highest priority. You have placed your trust in us to oversee the oral health of you or your family member, and we take that job seriously.  Our office continues to be closely adhering to the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and we have implemented additional social distancing protocols as well as sanitary and disinfecting measures, in addition to our already very strict infection control practices.

To this end, we are excited to announce that we will begin contacting some patients as soon as 4/28/2020 to schedule, prioritizing those who were scheduled at the start of the closure and working our way forward.  At this time, we have already canceled all patients who were previously scheduled from the start of the closure to the end of June 2020, and we will begin contacting those in chronological order by appointment date, due to the very limited size of our staff.  If you currently have a previously scheduled appointment between now and the end of June, please consider it canceled, and know that we are making every effort to get your appointment worked back into our temporarily light-volume appointment schedule as soon as possible.

If you or your child are experiencing an urgent problem with your orthodontic appliances, please contact our office at 503-236-3800.  We remain available to treat patients who have urgent needs, and on an emergency basis, regardless of when your original appointment was scheduled. However, we request that you contact us by phone to schedule ahead of time.  Please do not come to the office without a scheduled appointment.

In addition, we request that all existing patients who do come in for appointments enter our office alone when appropriate, or be accompanied by no more than one parent/guardian. However, new patients are encouraged to bring both parents/guardians. We would also require that all patients entering our office would be wearing a face mask until they are seated in the clinic, and all parents/guardians continue wearing a face mask throughout the duration of time in the office.

Again, the health and safety of our patients remain our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this may create and appreciate your understanding during this unique and difficult time.  We are here to serve you and feel this is the best course of action given the current situation.  Thank you all for the support and trust you have placed in us over the years, and we can’t wait to see all of your smiling faces when this is over.

For the most update-to-date information, please follow us on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kuperstein & Your Parkside Orthodontic Team

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Orthodontic Emergencies During Temporary Closure for COVID-19

Elective vs. Non-Elective Procedures as defined by the American Association of Orthodontists for COVID-19

Non-elective emergency:

  • Significant oral pain
  • Infected gums, cheek, or tongue
  • Limited ability to open/close your mouth
  • Physically traumatic event yielding the above

Elective non-urgent problem:

  • Unless any of the above is true, loose brackets and bands, as well as lost or broken retainers/aligners, should be considered elective

Many orthodontic patient “emergencies” can be managed by wax or sectioning an archwire with cuticle cutters/nail clippers

If you have an urgent need during this time, such as pain or injury, Dr. Kuperstein is available for emergency appointments.  Please contact our office at 503-236-3800 for guidance on the best course of action for your specific situation.

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