Retainers and stable resultsQuestion after the braces come off

Do I need a new removable retainer after bonding?

Answered byDr Ivelina Ivanova-Koycheva, Orthodontist (MSc)Master's degrees in orthodontics in Rome and in aligner treatment in Turin, international lecturerPublished on 12 November 2026

A removable aligner-type retainer follows the shape of the teeth extremely precisely. When bonding is carried out, material is added to one or more teeth to change their shape, size or colour. As a result, the clear retainer will no longer fit the altered teeth.

After bonding, we strongly recommend taking a new impression the same day and having a new retainer made. If bonding has been done on only one jaw (for example, only the upper teeth), then only that retainer needs to be replaced.

If you wear a plate-type removable retainer, it is important to bring it with you on the day of your bonding. That way the dentist or orthodontist can adjust it to fit the altered teeth. In most cases, the plate does not need to be replaced completely.

This adjustment is needed to make sure the retainer keeps doing its job and your teeth stay stable in their new position.

This answer is for general information. Your own case needs an examination by an orthodontist.