Once your teeth are straight, retainers are what keep them that way. Teeth naturally tend to drift back toward their old positions after braces or Invisalign, so a retainer worn as directed is what protects the result you worked for. At Kentfield Dental, Dr. Soroush Ghaffarpour ("Dr. G") fits three kinds of retainers — clear (Essix), Hawley, and fixed bonded retainers — and helps you choose the one that fits your case and your daily routine. Each is custom-made from a quick, comfortable digital scan in our Kentfield office, with no goopy molds. We see patients from across Marin who finished treatment with us or elsewhere and want a reliable way to maintain their smile.
What is a retainer, and why does it matter?
A retainer is a custom dental appliance that holds your teeth in their corrected position after orthodontic treatment. It's worth being clear about one thing: retainers don't move teeth — they hold them. Active movement is the job of braces or aligners. Once that's done, teeth have a natural tendency to relapse and shift back over months and years, and a retainer is what resists that drift. For most people, retention is a long-term habit rather than a few months of wear.
Kentfield Dental offers three retainer types. Clear (Essix) retainers are transparent, removable trays vacuum-formed to fit your teeth — discreet and easy, but they must be worn as directed and replaced periodically as they wear. Hawley retainers are the classic removable design, made of acrylic and a shaped wire — durable, adjustable, and long-lasting. Fixed lingual bars are a thin wire bonded behind your front teeth — invisible, always working, and requiring no compliance, though they call for careful flossing. The right choice depends on your case and habits, and Dr. G will help you decide.
Custom retainers, scanned and fitted in our Kentfield office
Every retainer we make starts with a fast, comfortable digital scan of your teeth — no cold, goopy impression material. From that scan we craft a retainer that fits precisely, which matters because a well-fitting retainer is one you'll actually wear. Dr. G takes time to walk you through the trade-offs between clear, Hawley, and bonded retainers so the choice fits your lifestyle, not just your bite. Some patients do best with a combination — for example, a bonded wire on the lower front teeth plus a clear retainer up top. We can 3D print clear retainers in-house, often turning them around quickly, and we keep your digital scan on file so a replacement is straightforward if one is ever lost or cracked. As a boutique, fee-for-service practice, we give this the unhurried attention it deserves.
- Digital intraoral scanning with Primescan 2 and 3Shape — no molds or putty
- Formlabs in-house 3D printing for clear retainers, often produced quickly on-site
- Three retainer types fitted under one roof: clear (Essix), Hawley, and bonded lingual
- Digital scans kept on file so replacements are simple if a retainer is lost or damaged
- MouthWatch intraoral cameras to show you fit, wear, and how to care for your retainer
- Spanish-speaking, comfort-focused care from Dr. G and the team
Why patients choose us for this
Protects your investment
Retainers hold the result of braces or Invisalign so your straightened teeth don't quietly drift back over time.
Three options to fit you
Clear, Hawley, and bonded retainers each suit different habits and cases — Dr. G helps you pick the right one.
Discreet clear option
Clear (Essix) retainers are transparent and removable, so most people won't notice you're wearing one.
Set-and-forget bonded option
A fixed lingual bar stays bonded behind your front teeth and works around the clock with no remembering required.
No goopy impressions
We use a quick digital scan instead of traditional molds — more comfortable and far easier on a sensitive gag reflex.
Easy replacements
Because we keep your digital scan on file, replacing a lost or cracked retainer is straightforward without starting over.
What to expect
Digital scan & consultation
We capture a quick, comfortable digital scan of your teeth — no impressions — and Dr. G reviews your bite and habits to recommend the clear, Hawley, or bonded retainer that fits you best.
Your custom retainer is made
Your retainer is crafted to fit precisely, with clear retainers often 3D printed in-house. For a bonded retainer, a thin wire is carefully bonded behind your front teeth.
Fit, wear & care instructions
We check the fit and show you exactly how to wear, clean, and store your retainer — including how to floss around a bonded wire — so it lasts and keeps doing its job.
Check-ins & replacements
We keep your digital scan on file and check your retainer at routine visits, replacing or repairing it as needed so your smile stays protected for the long term.
Do you need a retainer?
If you've had braces or Invisalign — or are about to finish — you almost certainly need a retainer to keep your results. Retainers are also worth a conversation if your old retainer is worn out, no longer fits, or was lost years ago and you've noticed your teeth shifting. The best way to know which type suits you is a quick visit: Dr. G will scan your teeth, talk through your routine, and give you an honest recommendation. We help patients from Kentfield, Greenbrae, Larkspur, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Mill Valley, Tiburon and across Marin County maintain their smiles.
- You've recently finished braces or Invisalign and need to hold the result
- Your old retainer no longer fits, is worn, or was lost long ago
- You've noticed your teeth slowly shifting since your last retainer days
- You want a discreet, removable option you can take out to eat
- You'd prefer a bonded retainer that requires no daily remembering
- You also grind at night and may benefit from a retainer and a nightguard
Frequently asked questions
No — retainers hold teeth in place, they don't move them. Active movement is the job of braces or clear aligners like Invisalign. Once your teeth are straight, a retainer's role is to resist the natural tendency for them to drift back.
We offer three. Clear (Essix) retainers are transparent and removable; Hawley retainers are the classic adjustable acrylic-and-wire design; and fixed bonded retainers are a thin wire bonded behind your front teeth. Dr. G helps you choose based on your case and habits.
For most people, retention is a long-term commitment. Many patients wear a removable retainer full-time at first, then taper to nights only, often indefinitely. A bonded retainer stays in place continuously. Dr. G will give you a specific plan for your case.
Neither is universally better — they're different tools. A bonded retainer works around the clock with no compliance needed but requires careful flossing. A removable retainer is easy to clean but only works when you wear it. The right choice depends on your habits, and many patients combine both.
Removable retainers should be rinsed and gently brushed daily, and kept in their case when not worn — never in hot water, which can warp them. For a bonded retainer, floss carefully around and under the wire each day with a floss threader. We'll show you exactly how at your visit.
Give us a call at (415) 456-5402 as soon as you can, because teeth can start shifting within days. Because we keep your digital scan on file, making a replacement is straightforward and we don't always have to start from scratch.
Sometimes, yes. A retainer holds your teeth in position, while a nightguard protects them from grinding and clenching. If you grind at night, Dr. G may recommend both, and in some cases a single appliance can be designed to help with both needs.