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1420 Governors Dr. SW, Suite 200, Huntsville, AL 35801Monday: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. · Tuesday: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. · Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. · Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. · Friday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. · Saturday and Sunday: ClosedMonday: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.Accepting new patientsDilip Goel, Dentist license (DMD) · AL License no. 000000(256) 555-0103
Goel OrthodonticsHuntsville, Alabama
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Huntsville, Alabama

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Orthodontics

Retainers

A retainer holds your teeth where they are after braces or aligners. Every patient who finishes treatment gets one.

Teeth shift slowly all your life, and they move most in the months after braces come off. Dr. Goel explains which retainer he recommends for you, how much to wear it and when you can wear it less.

In short

  • Clear trays or a thin wire behind the teeth

  • Worn as Dr. Goel directs

  • Checked at a few visits after treatment

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What happens, step by step

  1. 01

    Step 1: Fitting

    At the visit when your braces come off, we take a scan or an impression of your teeth.

  2. 02

    Step 2: Your first retainer

    You pick it up, learn to put it in and take it out, and get a case.

  3. 03

    Step 3: Wearing it

    Full time at first, then at night, as Dr. Goel tells you.

  4. 04

    Step 4: Checks

    A few short visits to be sure your teeth are staying put.

Good to know before you start

  • Comfort

    A new retainer feels tight for a few days. Tell us if it rubs or doesn't seat.

  • Other options, and waiting

    You could skip the retainer, and teeth often move back. A wire behind the teeth is another option, with its own care.

  • Risks and after-care

    A lost or broken retainer should be replaced quickly. Retainers need cleaning, and a wire behind the teeth needs careful flossing. Written instructions come with it.

  • How it's billed

    The first set of retainers is part of the treatment fee. A replacement is a separate fee, quoted in writing.

    How fees work

Questions about retainers

How long do I wear a retainer?

Dr. Goel will tell you at the visit when your braces come off. Most people wear one at night for as long as they want their teeth to stay put.

What if I lose it?

Call us at once. A new one costs a fee that we give you in writing.

Can I eat with it in?

Clear trays come out for meals. Ask Dr. Goel about a wire behind the teeth.

Why do teeth move back?

Teeth are held by tissue that remembers where they were. A retainer gives it time to settle.

Provided by an orthodontist

Dr. Dilip Goel, DMD, licensed in Alabama. His residency in orthodontics and his board status are listed on his page.

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