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Virginia Family Dentistry

VA Family Dentistry A Team Approach to Dental Care

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Retainers

Once the orthodontic treatment is completed and you and your orthodontist are happy with your bite and smile, your braces are removed. The next step in the orthodontic process is called retention.


How long retainers be worn?

Your orthodontist will determine how long you need to wear your retainer as time varies with each patient. Some people may need retainers for an extended period of time in order to eliminate shifting of the teeth. In few cases, permanent retention may be necessary. Most patients who have completed treatment only need to wear their retainer at night to keep teeth aligned.


What happens if the retainer is not worn regularly?

The retention period is an important part of your overall treatment and should not be neglected. Retainers are utilized to hold your teeth in their new positions until your bone, gums, and muscles adapt to the new teeth positions. You must wear your retainer as instructed, otherwise your teeth may move toward their original positions and the benefit of wearing your braces will be lost.

Remember; wear them in your mouth, not in your pocket. Retainers work when you follow our instructions.


How to care for retainers

Clean your retainers! After meals, clean all parts of the retainer with a brush.

Handle your retainers with care. Retainers are easy to lose. If you take your retainers out, always place them in your retainer case for safety.

Orthodontics

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Meet Our Orthodontists

Orthodontists are dental specialists who diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities to correctly align teeth and jaws.

Orthodontists complete 2-3 additional years of education and training after graduating dental school.

Virginia Family Dentistry has 5 orthodontists within the practice.
 

Dwight Buelow, DDS, MS, Orthodontist at Virginia Family Dentistry Powhatan and Virginia Family Dentistry Huguenot Bon Air
Dwight V. Buelow
Richard M. Marcus, DDS, Orthodontist at Virginia Family Dentistry Atlee Ashland and Virginia Family Dentistry West End
Richard M. Marcus
Allison S. Purcell, DDS, Orthodontist at Virginia Family Dentistry Mechanicsville and Virginia Family Dentistry Ironbridge
Allison S. Purcell
Dale Rogers, DDS, Orthodontist at Virginia Family Dentistry Midlothian and Virginia Family Dentistry Brandermill
Dale Rogers
Melanie W. Spears, DDS, MS, Orthodontist at Virginia Family Dentistry Chester and Virginia Family Dentistry Tri-Cities
Melanie Spears

Orthodontic Locations

  • Atlee-Ashland
  • Brandermill
  • Chester
  • Huguenot
  • Ironbridge
  • Mechanicsville
  • Midlothian
  • Powhatan
  • Short Pump
  • Tri-Cities

 
Virginia Family Dentistry is an Invisalign top 1% provider Virginia Family Dentistry is proud to be an Invisalign Top 1% Provider.

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About Virginia Family Dentistry

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With 15 locations in Central Virginia, Virginia Family Dentistry offers general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and dental implant placement services.

Virginia Family Dentistry Services

  • General Dentistry
  • Orthodontics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Periodontics
  • Endodontics
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Sedation Dentistry
  • Dental Implants

©2019 Virginia Family Dentistry, P.C.
All Rights Reserved.

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Metro Richmond Va Areas We Serve

Amelia | Ashland | Atlee | Bon Air | Charles City | Chester | Chesterfield | Colonial Heights | Flat Rock | Glen Allen | Hanover | Henrico | Hopewell | Mechanicsville | Midlothian | Moseley | New Kent | North Chesterfield | Petersburg | Powhatan | Prince George | Providence Forge | Quinton | Richmond | Sandston |Short Pump | West End

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