Retainers in Auburn, IN
Retention Care at Our Auburn Office
Retainers are what turn a finished case into a permanent result. The bone and fibres holding newly straightened teeth need a long time to settle, and without something holding position the teeth migrate — slowly, quietly, and usually starting with the lower front teeth.
We fit retainers at the end of every case we treat at our West Seventh Street office, and we also see Auburn adults who finished treatment years ago somewhere else and no longer have a working retainer. Dr. Joel Johnson will tell you whether a new one will hold what you have or whether the teeth need moving back first.
The Options We Fit
There is no single correct retainer — it depends on what was corrected and how reliably you will wear something you can take out.
| Type | Best suited to | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Clear removable retainers | Most patients, most cases | Worn nightly for the long term; replaceable, and easy to lose |
| Fixed (bonded) wire | Lower front teeth with a strong tendency to crowd again | Cemented behind the teeth, nothing to remember; needs careful flossing and periodic checks |
| Traditional wire-and-acrylic retainers | Cases needing adjustment or extra durability | Robust and adjustable; more visible, worn on the schedule Dr. Johnson sets |
A common combination is a bonded wire behind the lower front teeth with a removable retainer above, covering the movements most likely to relapse.
The Wear Schedule, and Why It Never Really Ends
Expect a period of all-day wear immediately after appliances come off, then a switch to overnight only. Overnight wear is the part that has no end date. Patients often assume there is a point at which the teeth are set and the retainer becomes optional; there is not. Late-twenties crowding in the lower arch is the predictable consequence of quietly abandoning the habit a few years after treatment.
Two practical rules keep this cheap. Bring the retainer along to any appointment so we can confirm it still seats, and treat damage as urgent rather than annoying — a warped or missing appliance is a same-week phone call. Heat is what destroys most of them: Caring for retainers sets out how to clean and store yours without cooking it.
Repairs and Replacements for Any Patient
You do not have to have been treated here.
- Replacement retainers made for adults who finished treatment with another practice.
- Loose bonded wires re-cemented rather than removed and forgotten about.
- A straight answer when teeth have already drifted — sometimes a new retainer is not the right answer, and we say so.
- Short appointments, with 7:30 a.m. starts and Friday morning hours.
- Retention checks with the orthodontist who treated you, where you were treated here.
- Quick turnaround on emergency replacements, because delay is what costs you the result.
Fees, Coverage and Monthly Payments
Retainers are included in the quoted fee when you complete treatment with us. Replacements and repairs for patients treated elsewhere are priced individually and are rarely covered by insurance — you will have the figure before we make anything. See pricing, payment plans, insurance and your first visit.
Finding Our Auburn Office
our office at 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706, on West Seventh Street, a few minutes from the I-69 Auburn exit. Retainer visits are short, and we try to turn emergency replacements around quickly, because a broken retainer sitting in a drawer is a week of unwanted movement.
O·M·I Orthodontics, 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706. Phone (260) 925-0300. Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. Our Auburn office page has the map, and Retainers in Fort Wayne, IN is the same service at our Fort Wayne office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is overnight wear really permanent?
Yes, and we would rather be blunt about it than have you discover the alternative at thirty. Ongoing overnight wear is what keeps a finished case finished.
I was treated by another orthodontist. Will you still see me?
Yes. Replacement work for patients who finished elsewhere is routine here; we scan or impress your arch as it stands today and build to that.
What if movement has already happened?
Then the question changes from retention to correction. Minor drift can often simply be held; anything beyond that needs a short course of treatment first, and Dr. Johnson will show you the difference on your own scan before you spend anything.
My retainer no longer fits properly. Should I force it?
No. An appliance that has distorted can apply pressure in directions nobody planned. Leave it out and ring the office.
Fixed wire or removable plate?
A bonded wire wins on compliance, since forgetting it is impossible, and it is the standard answer for lower front teeth. The cost is hygiene effort, plus the chance of one end debonding unnoticed, which is why we inspect it whenever you are in.
Do I pay separately for retainers?
Not if you complete treatment with us: retention sits inside the quoted case fee and the appliance is fitted on removal day. Retainers and post-treatment care is the general overview.
Other treatments we offer: Braces treatment · Clear aligner · Adult orthodontics · Early treatment. all services.
Retainer Checks, Repairs and Replacements
Bring in the retainer you have, or tell us about the one you lost. The assessment is free, and we will tell you honestly whether a new retainer holds your teeth where they are or whether they have already moved enough to need treatment.
Find us at 702 W Seventh St, Auburn, IN 46706 in Auburn — West Seventh Street, a few minutes from the I-69 Auburn exit. Our hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. You can book your complimentary consultation online, send us a message, or call (260) 925-0300.