Retainers For Keeping Your Teeth Straight

A retainer is a customized device intended to hold your teeth in their proper position after orthodontic treatment is complete. The new position of your teeth is not permanent until roughly four to six months have passed with the retainer in place. Although your teeth attempt to move back to their original position in what is referred to as relapse, a retainer will prevent this from occurring.

While wearing a retainer can be considered an inconvenience, it is a superior alternative to experiencing braces again. Two basic types of retainers are available: removable and permanent. With the help of our orthodontist, you can select the most suitable type of retainer, a decision that will be determined by what you specifically need it for and any conditions that you might have. Our orthodontist can supply you with one type of retainer or opt for a combination of the two. For example, you could receive a removable retainer for your top teeth and a permanent one for your bottom teeth.

Types of Retainers

Bonded Retainers | This type of retainer is attached to your teeth following the removal of braces. The retainer will keep your teeth firmly in place for the first few months after treatment. Our orthodontist will likely recommend a bonded retainer if you must constantly wear a retainer following orthodontic treatment or if the orthodontic wire placed on the back of your upper or lower teeth keeps coming off.

Hawley Retainers | Commonly called wire retainers, this type of removable retainer is made of thin metal wire and plastic or acrylic. It is shaped to comfortably fit onto the roof of your mouth or along the inside of your lower teeth. To ensure alignment, the attached metal wire runs along the outside of your teeth.

Clear Plastic Retainers | Molded to adequately fit your new teeth position, these removable retainers are also known as molded retainers. First, a mold of your teeth is created, then a highly thin plastic or polyurethane is heated and sucked down around the mold, creating your custom-fit retainer.

How To Properly Care For Your Retainer

Since your retainer stays in your mouth and against your teeth, bacteria, plaque, and tartar will inevitably accumulate on it. Like your teeth, it is crucial that you clean your retainer every day. Other ways to care for your retainer include:

• Keep them away from heat, whether it is microwaves, dishwashers, boiling water, washing machines, or dyers, exposure to excessive heat can quickly warp your removable retainer.
• Use simple brushing as you do not need to depend on intense cleansers to clean your removable retainer. As long as you regularly clean it, you will prevent bacteria, plaque, and tartar from amassing on it.
• Do not oversoak your retainer when you opt for tablets, and timing the soak of your removable retainer is key. Too much of a soak can corrode the metal components, so be sure to soak the retainer for the time required to clean it, which should be specified on your cleaning tablets.
• Do your best to clean your retainer case frequently. Scrub all surfaces in warm, soapy water, then rinse it off thoroughly and dry it completely before placing your retainer back inside.
• Replace when necessary, as retainers experience lots of wear and tear, which means they will likely need to be replaced at some point. Much of that will depend on how diligent you are in looking after your retainer. Hawley retainers, for instance, can last 5-to-10-years with sufficient care. If you see that your retainer is extremely worn out, filthy, or improperly fitting, talk to our orthodontist about having it replaced.