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After Dr. John R. Schouten removes your braces, you will still need to wear a retainer. Without the use of a retainer your teeth can gradually come out of their ideal alignment. The most common type of retainer that Dr. John R. Schouten prescribes is known as a Hawley. If your Hawley retainer is damaged, or you don’t wear it during the prescribed times, you might have to use a retainer for a longer period of time.

A Hawley retainer is made from a custom molded acrylic material set with a pair of wires that anchors it firmly in your mouth. The retainer is removable and easy to clean as part of your daily oral hygiene routine.

When you are not wearing it you should always keep your Hawley retainer in the case provided by Dr. John R. Schouten It’s a good habit to simply keep the case with you, rather than improvise by keeping it in a napkin or a plastic bag. To refresh your retainer, you can soak it in a mixture of one-half antiseptic mouthwash and one-half cold water.

If you have questions about how to clean and maintain your new retainer, or your retainer is damaged in some way, please call Dr. John R. Schouten at 435.637.0820 for advice or to schedule an appointment.