Lower lingual retainer

A lower lingual retainer is a thin wire bonded behind the lower front teeth to help hold their alignment after orthodontic treatment.

Lingual means toward the tongue. The retainer is usually a shaped metal wire attached to the tongue-side surfaces of several lower incisors with dental composite, so it is fixed in place and must be cleaned around rather than removed at home.

Clean above and below the wire with a small interdental brush, floss threader, or water flosser as instructed. Check the bond with your tongue and contact the orthodontic team if the wire bends, lifts, feels sharp, or traps food.

Seek review when a bond breaks, the wire rubs the tongue, a tooth begins to rotate, or plaque and gum bleeding develop around the retainer. Do not pull or rebond the wire yourself.

Ask which teeth are bonded, how to floss around each contact, whether a removable retainer is also needed, and what to do if the wire detaches on one side.