Retainers and Retention in Seoul: Keeping Your Teeth Straight
Quick answer
Retainers hold teeth in place after braces or aligners, because teeth naturally tend to drift back. Most orthodontists now recommend some form of long-term retention. Isu Yonsei Baro Orthodontics provides bonded wire retainers, removable clear retainers, replacements and retention checks, including for people who finished treatment elsewhere, with every explanation in English from Dr. Sally Lee.
Why retention matters
After teeth are moved, the gum fibers and bone around them take time to adapt, and natural changes continue throughout life. Without a retainer, teeth, especially the lower front teeth, often shift. Retention is not an optional extra; it is the last and longest phase of orthodontic treatment.
Types of retainers
| Bonded (fixed) retainer | Removable clear retainer | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Thin wire bonded behind the front teeth | Clear plastic tray, similar to an aligner |
| Compliance | Works all the time | Must be worn as instructed, often nightly |
| Cleaning | Needs careful flossing | Remove and clean daily |
| Risks | Can debond or break unnoticed | Can be lost, cracked or warped |
Many patients have both: a bonded wire on the lower or upper front teeth and a clear retainer worn at night as backup.
Common retainer problems
- A bonded wire has come loose from one tooth
- A clear retainer no longer fits, or feels tight after missing nights
- The retainer was lost or damaged during a move
- Small shifts in the front teeth have appeared
Acting early helps. A retainer that is slightly tight can sometimes guide minor shifts back, but larger changes may need limited re-treatment.
What to expect at Isu Yonsei Baro
Retention visits start with an exam and an intraoral digital scan, so replacement retainers can be made without impression putty. If you finished treatment elsewhere, bring any records you have; Dr. Lee reviews how your teeth have changed and explains your options in English, including whether a new retainer is enough or minor correction is advisable.
In Dr. Lee's practice, retention is planned at the start of treatment, not added at the end: the type of retainer and how long to wear it depend on the original problem, for example closed gaps and corrected rotations tend to need more vigilant retention than simple alignment.
For patients leaving Korea, the clinic can provide your final scans and retainer details in English, so a dentist or orthodontist abroad can make a replacement if needed. Saturday mornings and evening hours on Mondays and Thursdays make short retention visits easy to schedule.
Looking after your retainer
- Keep removable retainers in their case, never wrapped in a napkin
- Clean with cool water and a soft brush; hot water can warp plastic
- Floss under bonded retainers daily with a threader or floss pick
- Bring your retainers to every check-up
- Keep pets away from retainers; dogs in particular like to chew them
How often to have retention checks
A common pattern is a few checks during the first year after braces or aligners come off, then periodic reviews, for example once a year. These visits are short: Dr. Lee checks fit, looks at any bonded wire for loose spots, and compares your teeth with the end-of-treatment scan to spot early shifts before they become noticeable.
Individual results and side effects vary; treatment is decided after examination.
At a glance
- Types: bonded (fixed) wire retainers and removable clear retainers
- Long-term, often nighttime, wear is commonly recommended
- Replacement retainers made from a digital scan, no impression putty
- Retention checks for patients treated elsewhere, including abroad
- English records and retainer details if you relocate
Your orthodontist
Dr. Sally Chaekyung Lee, DDS, PhD
- MOHW-certified orthodontic specialist
- PhD in Orthodontics, Yonsei University; Severance Hospital residency
- Member, Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontists
- 2026 AJO-DO peer reviewer
- Consults in fluent English and treats you herself, start to finish
Isu Station Exit 2 · 1-minute walk
Mon & Thu until 9 PM · Sat 9 AM–2 PM
+82 2-592-2080
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to wear my retainer?
Many orthodontists now recommend long-term retention, often full-time for a short period after braces and then nightly for years. The exact schedule depends on your original problem and how your teeth respond. Dr. Lee gives you a personal retention plan and reviews it at follow-up visits.
My bonded retainer came loose. Is it an emergency?
It is not usually a medical emergency, but it should be repaired soon because the unbonded teeth can shift. Avoid biting on the loose section, and contact the clinic by phone, WhatsApp or KakaoTalk. If you also have a clear retainer, wear it until the bonded wire is fixed.
Can I get a new retainer if I had braces in another country?
Yes. Dr. Lee examines your teeth, takes a digital scan and makes a replacement retainer. If your teeth have shifted since treatment, she explains whether a new retainer can hold them as they are or whether minor re-treatment would be worth considering first. Bring any records you still have.
My teeth moved because I stopped wearing my retainer. What now?
Small shifts are common and can often be corrected with limited treatment, such as a short course of clear aligners, followed by a new retainer. Larger relapse may need more comprehensive re-treatment. Dr. Lee assesses how much has changed and explains realistic options and a written estimate in English.
Related reading
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Individual results and side effects vary; treatment is decided after an in-person examination. See our editorial and medical review policy .
Talk to Dr. Lee in English
Send your concern and preferred dates. You'll get an examination, your options, a timeline and a written estimate before you decide anything.