Removable plates (upper and lower removable appliances)

Active removable appliances

Active removable appliances are manufactured from hard plastic and wire. They are used in both the upper arch (upper removable appliances – URA) and in the lower arch (lower removable appliances – LRA). These appliances have many functions including the straightening of a few teeth, controlling deep bites, increasing the width of the jaws and gaining lost space from the early loss of the deciduous teeth.

To work properly, active removable appliances must be worn full time, including eating and sleeping, for approximately 6 to 12 months followed by night-time wear to hold the teeth in the new position.

Sport

• Unless your breathing is impaired, you should be able to play most sports with your appliance in place.
• If you are playing contact sport you should exchange your appliance for a mouthguard, then swap it back immediately the sport concludes.
• If you are swimming in an area where the appliance is at risk of being lost, remove it beforehand and then re-insert it immediately after you have exited the water.

General care

• NEVER pour hot water over your appliance, this will distort or melt it.
• Should your appliance become damaged, please present it along with the models upon which it was manufactured to the surgery for a repair/replacement assessment.
• Always store your appliance in the container provided. NEVER wrap it in tissues, serviettes or Glad Wrap – it is the easiest way to inadvertently discard it.
• NEVER store it in your pocket, here it will be squashed, distorted or end up in the washing machine.
• Small children and pets love to play with and often damage appliances, NEVER leave them within their reach.

Cleaning

• Remove your appliance morning and evening for cleaning.
• Once the appliance has been removed, brush your teeth as usual paying special attention to the roof of your mouth where the appliance normally sits. This area can quickly become irritated if neglected.
• Brush all areas of your appliance with toothpaste and toothbrush to remove plaque and debris. (Always lean over a sink of water or a towel while doing this. Dropping your appliance on a bathroom tile or empty sink will damage it.)
• You may wish to soak your retainer with a denture cleansing agent – this can be done once or twice a week.

Things to remember

• After an adjustment, you may experience some discomfort in a few or all of your teeth. Pain relief may be required, similar in strength to that which you would take for a headache. This discomfort should only last for a few days.
• Please bring your appliance to every visit. Even if you are instructed to wear it only at night, we need to assess the fit at every checkup.

If you have any queries, or if you misplace your appliance, please phone the surgery.