Retainers Downtown Los Angeles. City of Angels Dentistry provides custom retainers for patients who have completed orthodontic treatment or need to replace a lost or broken retainer — same-week appointments available.
Most patients who come in for retainers at City of Angels Dentistry are either coming off Invisalign treatment or coming in because they lost a retainer and noticed their teeth starting to shift. Dr. Kevin Chin has been providing orthodontic maintenance in Downtown Los Angeles since 2018, and his advice on retainers is always the same: wear them as prescribed. The orthodontic result is permanent only as long as the retainer is in use. Once shifting starts, getting back to the original position is more involved than simply replacing the retainer.
A digital scan or impressions of your current teeth are taken to fabricate retainers that fit precisely. If teeth have shifted since your last retainer, Dr. Chin will assess the degree of movement.
Your custom retainers are fabricated and ready for pickup at a follow-up appointment. Both clear removable and fixed wire retainers are available.
Dr. Chin fits the retainers and provides instructions for wear schedule and care. Most patients wear retainers nightly long-term.
Retainers maintain the orthodontic result after treatment — custom-fabricated appliances worn nightly to prevent teeth from shifting back. At City of Angels Dentistry in Downtown LA, custom retainers and replacement retainers are available with same-week appointments.
Retainers are orthodontic appliances worn after the active phase of treatment to maintain the position of teeth that have been moved. At City of Angels Dentistry in Downtown LA, Dr. Kevin Chin provides custom removable and fixed retainers for patients completing Invisalign treatment and for patients who need to replace lost or broken retainers.
Removable retainers are clear plastic trays worn over the teeth — similar in appearance to Invisalign aligners. Fixed retainers are thin wire bonded to the back of the front teeth and are permanently in place. Many patients choose a combination — a fixed retainer for the lower front teeth and a removable retainer for the upper. Dr. Chin recommends the appropriate type based on your treatment and lifestyle.
Most patients wear retainers nightly indefinitely. Some patients can transition to every-other-night wear after the first year, depending on their orthodontic history. Dr. Chin advises on the appropriate schedule at your retainer appointment.
Teeth will gradually shift toward their original positions without retainer use. The rate of shifting varies by patient. Some patients notice movement within weeks of stopping; others see changes over months or years. If significant shifting has occurred, additional treatment may be needed to restore alignment.
City of Angels Dentistry is at 1127 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1100 in Downtown LA — accessible from the Financial District, Bunker Hill, the Arts District, Koreatown, Echo Park, and Silver Lake.
Retainer cost depends on the type. Clear removable retainers and fixed wire retainers are priced differently. Dr. Chin provides clear pricing at your appointment.
Clear removable retainers typically last years with regular use before they need to be replaced. Fixed wire retainers can last many years if properly bonded and maintained.
A retainer can only hold teeth in their current position — it cannot move teeth that have already shifted. If significant shifting has occurred, Dr. Chin will assess whether additional aligner treatment is needed before a new retainer is made.
Yes. City of Angels Dentistry can fabricate replacement retainers for patients who completed orthodontic treatment elsewhere.
