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Why Are Retainers Important?

  • February 2, 2019
  • 11:28 pm
  • Braces, FAQ
  • Braces, Dr. Harrison, Retainer

If you have recently gotten your braces off and are just getting into wearing your retainer, you might wonder if you can get away with not wearing your retainer daily. Maybe you have already started putting it to the side, intentionally not wearing it. In this blog, Dr. Harrison’s team explains why you need to continue wearing your retainer.

Why Wear Your Retainer?

You had to wear your braces for an extended period of time. To ensure that the results that you saw the day your braces were removed remain intact, you should wear your retainer. Your retainer will help to combat tooth shifting. Tooth shifting is where your teeth attempt to naturally move back into the positions they were in prior to treatment. This normally occurs over time. Remember, you don’t have to wear your retainer 24 hours a day, seven days a week! If your retainer begins to fit differently, you should consult a dentist.  

Is It Ok To Skip A Day?

Maybe you are staying at a friend’s house, or are going on vacation and you forgot your retainer. Don’t panic! It is okay not to wear it for a day, but do not make it a habit. Before you go somewhere overnight, make a list and make sure that “retainer” is on there, right alongside “toothbrush and toothpaste.” Try not to make forgetting it a consistent habit.  

Contact Dr. Harrison today

If you have any questions about retainer usage, or if you would like to reverse some of the damage done by not wearing a retainer over the years, contact Dr. Harrison and his team today! It is never too late to invest in your dental health and appearance!

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Meet Some Dentists in Springfield, MO

Some of the doctors at Parkcrest Dental Group

Dr. Stuart Scott (top left) is our pediatric dentist. He earned his degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry before completing a two-year residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Dr. Steven Harrison (top center) is board-certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Dr. Harrison, our orthodontist, graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry. He’s been with Parkcrest Dental Group since 1986.

Dr. Chanin Ropka (top right) attended UMKC before joining the United States Navy, where she served as the only dentist on board the USS Germantown and at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. Dr. Ropka began at Parkcrest Dental in 2001.

Dr. Daniel Fannin (bottom left) graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry in 1997. He completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency in 1998 before joining Parkcrest Dental Group that same year.

Dr. Steven C. Sponenberg (bottom center) has been a Springfieldian his entire life. He graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2004 before joining Parkcrest Dental Group immediately after.

Dr. Jason Hall (bottom right) is also a native Springfieldian. He earned his DDS from the University of Missouri at Kansas City Dental School in 1997. He came to Parkcrest Dental Group in 2010. Dr. Hall’s father, Stan, is also a dentist.

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