The journey of wearing braces is almost complete. County Dental schedules the exciting day to remove braces, but that is not when the the process ends to maintain a healthy smile.

How are Braces Removed? 

The removal process of braces is pain-free and simple. The first step for the County Dental orthodontist is to safely break the bond between the brackets and your teeth. The remaining bonding cement is removed by a dental hand piece after all the brackets are removed. The brackets are removed by squeezing the brackets bases, releasing the adhesive bond. 

The removal process takes approximately one hour. 

Your gums may be slightly inflamed for few days. The inflammation subsides with proper brushing and flossing after a few days. 

County Dental recommends a thorough cleaning by your dentist following the removal of braces. A mold is taken after the braces are removed for a retainer. 

Wear Your Retainer

An appointment is made one to two weeks after the braces have been removed for retainer placement. Retainers are important during this stage of treatment where the teeth are relatively unstable and must be retained for proper treatment completion. 

County Dental encourages the specifically-made retainer for your mouth to be worn for the first six months throughout the day and night. After six months consult with County Dental to see if you only need to wear the the retainer at night. 

Important Tips

• Ease slowly into eating hard or chewy foods that you were not able to while wearing braces. 
• Do not leave your retainer on a napkin while eating. This is one of the most common ways retainers are thrown away. 
• It may be difficult to speak with a retainer for the first few days. Practice speaking to help with the adjustment of wearing a retainer. 
• Maintain proper oral hygiene. 
• Contact your County Dental offices in the Hudson Valley of New York with any questions. 
• County Dental is committed to whole health care for our community serving over 105,000 patients in Hudson Valley.

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