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Permanent or removable retainers: which is right for you?

When the time comes for Dr. Sal Zammitti to remove your braces, it is very exciting. Unfortunately, it can be somewhat confusing, too, because you are faced with choosing between two kinds of retainers. Should you go with permanent, removable, or a combination of the two? It is always wise to follow Zammitti Orthodontics recommendations, but knowing more about the two types of retainer beforehand can be helpful.Removable Retainers

Removable retainers offer the advantage of easy use: you will generally put a removable retainer in at night and take it out in the morning. Regardless of your retainer schedule, you’ll be able to enjoy some time with no retainer. However, a removable retainer can easily be forgotten at times, and this means you won’t be taking full advantage of teeth retention.

Another potential advantage of a removable retainer is that you can take it out and brush and floss your teeth with ease, which is more of a challenge with a permanent retainer. Although removable retainers can be very effective, they don’t tend to be as effective as permanent retainers, especially if they are not used as directed.

Permanent Retainers

Permanent retainers are the clear choice for patients who want to “get it and forget it.” Once your permanent retainer is placed in your mouth, you won’t need to worry about daily retainer schedules, since it is permanently affixed to your teeth.

Because teeth begin to shift naturally as we age, a permanent retainer typically offers better long-term results for teeth straightening than a removable one. You can’t forget to put it in — it’s already there! Temporary retainers get lost or are forgotten on trips, and often fail to get used as often as they should be.

One drawback to permanent retainers is flossing. Some patients find it more difficult to floss with a permanent retainer, but we can show you effective ways to floss fairly quickly with your permanent retainer.

Some orthodontists may recommend a combination of the two; for example, a removable retainer for the top teeth and a permanent one for the lower ones because the lower teeth are smaller and tend to shift more.

Ultimately, the most important thing to remember is that wearing your retainer as directed is extremely important. As long as you follow our orthodontist’s advice, you will get the best results from your retainer, regardless of its type. If you’re still not sure whether the choice you’ve made is truly right for you, get in touch with us at our Concorde, NC location right away!

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Schedule Free Consult

The first step toward achieving a beautiful, healthy smile is to schedule an appointment. Simply select a location below, then choose the time and day that works best with your schedule.

  • Concord

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Patient Testimonials

We Love Making People Smile

Hear what our patients have to say about their experience with us!

View More
I went for my consult today and loved every minute. The staff was so nice and special shout out to Karen, the treatment coordinator, whom I absolutely ADORE! She’s very thorough with all... the information she provides and answers any and all questions. Would so far definitely recommended them!read more
Heavon J.
I love all the Ladies at the Harrisburg Office. I am going to miss seeing them when my son Zachary's braces come off. Would definitely recommend.
Gypsy C.
Great customer service great experience on today she made my son Son feel at ease
Dorothy B.
I enjoyed my visit for the very first time the staff made me feel comfortable from the time I walked in. Everything was just great about the office. I highly recommend.!
Shacoria C.
We had a great experience! Dr Matt is very friendly and thorough and great with kids!
Lori B.
Matt is a great provider. His team works hard and are very kind/polite. My daughter felt very comfortable in their care. I highly recommend this practice.
Danielle D.
Very clean, safe, friendly and dedicated staff! I’m excited to get serviced by staff!
Jaz
I want to say I visited a Orthodontist today named Zammitti &Gidaly in DavidsonWelcoming and professionalism.Thank you Dr.Gidaly and Karen for your great smiles that meet us this... morning!!!!Excellence in what they do!!!Rev.Jettonread more
Etheleen J.
We had a great visit and consultation. Dr. Gilday helped us understand where we are right now, gave us a timeline for orthodontic needs, and answered all our questions.
Casey V.
Everyone was so nice and explained in great detail what my son needed . It didn't feel like a sales pitch, it was in the best interest of my son and our concerns. Looking forward to them... helping my son be more comfortable and confident.read more
Steph
Lovely facility, amazing staff and outstanding customer service/ expertise. So glad we found this office !
Chamasha T.
The staff was beyond helpful and kind. Dr. G was patient and very knowledgeable. Great experience!
Katie R.
Amazing experience. Everyone is kind and professional at this location. Karen is a true sweetheart. Dr. Gidaly is straightforward & professional. You will not be disappointed!!!
Keana C.
WOW! Just WOW! Absolutely detest dental work due to previous experiences at a dentist's offices being so traumatic & the judgement I feel at the practices I've been a patient at. Not to... mention, the use of what I feel are scare tactics or at least come across that way. Therefore, I was definitely nervous about my initial ortho consultation with Dr. Zammitti...dreading the possibility of hearing all the things that are wrong & ugly about my teeth along with the pressure of having to have everything "fixed". My experience couldn't have been any further from that. I couldn't have asked for a better experience from the moment I walked in & met my treatment coordinator to the moment I left & everything in between. My treatment coordinator respected my "dental anxiety" & couldn't have done her job any better. Dr. Zammitti is hilarious to me, I'm not sure why but I find him very funny....and BRILLIANT! Like super BRILLIANT! He actually sat down at a desk with me to talk!!!! He explained things in normal human language that made sense. He didn't try to boast how intelligent he is or the endless list of credentials by throwing out tons of medical terminology that could be intimidating & cause someone to become overwhelmed. I didn't feel judged or criticized. I felt like his approach was more of "this is what I can do to make your smile perfect" rather than "you need to do this or all these bad things are going to happen". Everything was clear & I felt like I had a choice. My treatment coordinator explained the financials, which also made me feel like I had options. Because of my initial experience,I chose to follow Dr. Zammitti's suggestions toget braces. Dr. Zammitti & the assistant, Nathalie,were both very gentle putting braces on...BUT they also worked quickly which was crucial for me....yet I felt like if I had needed a break at any point,they would have been completely fine with it.l & wouldn't have grown impatient. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this practice!!!! If you want your smile to be as flawlessas possible ....GO HERE!!!read more
Kelly L.
We had a great experience with Dr. Gidaly. He is kind and patient, never forceful in his approach. My daughter was a little nervous about starting orthodontic treatment, but Dr. Gidaly... made her feel completely at ease from the first visit.read more
Matt K.
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    Harrisburg, NC 28075
Concord, NC
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