Congratulations! Today is the day that you get your braces off! You will now be entering in to an important phase of your treatment- The Retention Phase. Completion of orthodontic treatment does not guarantee perfectly straight teeth for the rest of your life. Teeth have memory and often try to move back to their original positions. Retainers are required to keep your teeth in their new positions. Regular retainer wear is often necessary over your lifetime as your body is continually undergoing growth and maturation. Minor irregularities, particularly in the lower front teeth may occur. In summary, you need your retainers to keep your teeth as straight as possible, but even with good retainer wear your teeth may still slightly move.

Instructions and responsibilities.

I understand the I have the following responsibilities:

1. Return to the office within 1 week to pick up retainers
2. Wear my removable retainer 24 hours a day (including sleeping) for the 1st month (unless instructed otherwise) followed by “night-time” wear for the rest of my life.
3. Maintain my scheduled retention appointments with Dr. McMurphy.
4. Ensure my child brings their removable retainers to their retention appointments.
5. Continue to have my child see their Pediatric/General Dentist for my regular cleaning and check-up appointments.
6. Call the office immediately if my retainer breaks or is not fitting properly. 

I understand the above information. I have had the opportunity to ask any questions & I have had those questions adequately answered. I am ready to proceed with the removal of my braces.

Working together, we can help you preserve your new smile. Please understand that teeth make adaptive changes to function of the tongue, lips and supporting structures. Additionally, teeth have a “memory” and often try to move back to their original positions. Expect that even with perfect retainer wear the teeth will not stay exactly where we placed them. This readjustment is not a failure of correction, but a natural change that we have learned to accept. You will need to wear the retainers as instructed to maintain as much of the correction as possible. About 90-95% of your correction can usually be retained. As part of your treatment we will supervise the first year of your retainer wear free of charge.

Retainer Fit


• Feels comfortable, no poking/rough areas
• Placement: Ensure the retainers are fully seated
• Removal: Remove them from the back to the front; start in the back on one side and walk around

Retainer Wear

• FIRST 4 WEEKS: Full-time wear (retainers should be worn 24/7)

• AFTER 4 WEEKS: Night-time wear for the rest of your life.


***However, if the retainers feel tight then wear them more (tightly fitting retainers usually mean that your teeth are trying to shift)


*** IF THE RETAINERS ARE NOT WORN AS DIRECTED, THE TEETH WILL SHIFT!!!


*** It will be the patient’s responsibility to replace ill-fitting retainers that were not picked-up at the office as advised (the next day unless stated otherwise)

Important Information


• Retainers are made from plastic so they will wear down over time. The time it takes for the retainers to wear down varies from patient-to-patient and depends upon many factors, including patient-specific habits.

• Retainers should be placed in your case when they are not in your mouth (pets love to eat them and they can be thrown away easily if they are not in their case).

• Retainers should not be placed into or around anything that is hot (i.e. in hot water or in direct sunlight), this can cause the retainers to distort and not fit properly

• Clean your retainers daily with denture cleaner tablets. (Do not clean your retainers with toothpaste or soak in Listerine as this may cause your retainers to become cloudy & can also create scratches on them.)


Please contact our office if you have any questions/concerns regarding your retainers and/or if you break or lose your retainers

IN-HOUSE RETAINER PROGRAM (Included in Every Treatment Plan)

• 3D Scan of Teeth
• 3D Printed Models of Both Upper and Lower Teeth
• 1 set of retainers (1 upper retainer and 1 lower retainer)

Replacement Fees

• $200 per replacement retainer with 3D printed model. 

Bonded retainer(s) (If Applicable) will be repaired at no charge if/when it breaks for the 1st time. If the bonded retainer(s) breaks after the 1st repair, the following fees, and conditions may apply:

• $40 per pad repair fee, $280 for complete replacement of bonded retainer OR remove retainer(s), and switch to clear retainers.

***If the bonded retainer(s) breaks after the first repair, Dr. McMurphy may assess the pre-determined charge to repair the bonded retainer or decide to have a removable retainer made instead.

*** It will be the patient’s responsibility to replace ill-fitting retainers that were not picked-up at the office as advised (the next day unless stated otherwise)

THE MCMURPHY SMILE GUARANTEE

McMurphy Orthodontics stands behind every patient’s smile, and wants to help every patient maintain that smile they worked so hard to achieve. If for any reason you experience any shifting, and become unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, don’t worry! We can fix it! We will put you back through treatment, and the only amount you pay is $189 per month for all of your adjustments, until you’re once again satisfied with your smile, and the cost of a new retainer to make sure you preserve that beautiful smile.

I acknowledge that the information on this form has been explained to me and I fully understand that I am the only person who can accept responsibility for my retainer wear and maintaining my teeth in their current position.

I hereby grant permission to McMurphy Orthodontics to use my photograph & testimony regarding the dental care I received, in any marketing, advertising or teaching materials used to market or advertise the dental practices, including use on McMurphy Orthodontics’ website, social media page(s), blogs, etc.. I acknowledge McMurphy Orthodontics’ right to crop or otherwise treat the photograph & testimony at his/her discretion. I also acknowledge that McMurphy Orthodontics may choose not to use my photograph & testimony at this time, but may do so at his/her own discretion at a later date. I also understand that once my photograph & testimony is posted on McMurphy Orthodontics’ website, social media page(s), or online blog, any computer user, which is beyond the control of McMurphy Orthodontics, can download the image and I will hold him/her and any of his/her affiliated offices harmless from any such use or download.