You’ve just endured months or even years of wearing braces, dealing with tightening wires and sore teeth. Your treatment is finally complete and your new smile looks amazing! Although you’re eager to bid your braces farewell, it’s crucial to understand that retainers are a vital part of your orthodontic treatment.
What is a Retainer?
A retainer is an appliance made of wires and plastic that help teeth stay in their new, straightened positions after braces are removed. Retainers are custom-made to fit your mouth and apply precise levels of pressure to keep teeth stationed in their ideal alignment.
Why is a Retainer Necessary?
Without a retainer, your teeth will quickly shift back towards their original crooked or misaligned positions, undoing all of the time, effort and expense of your orthodontic treatment. Your teeth are held firmly in place by fibers in the bone. Orthodontic treatment repositions these fibers and they need time to re-solidify in the new alignment. Retainers “set” your teeth in their corrected positions while these fibers strengthen.
How Often Do I Have to Wear My Retainer?
Retainers are worn full-time for the first 6-12 months after braces come off. This allows time for the bone fibers to fully stabilize around the realigned teeth. After this initial period, most patients transition to nighttime-only wear. While you may not have to wear retainers full-time forever, some form of long-term retention is important to prevent orthodontic relapse as you age.
What Happens if I Forget to Wear My Retainer?
Consistency is key when it comes to retainers. If you forget to wear your retainer as directed, even for a few days, your teeth may shift out of alignment relatively quickly. Missed days can turn into weeks, allowing your teeth to move backwards and lose the progress made during treatment. Stay on track by sticking closely to your orthodontist’s retainer wear recommendations! In some cases, allowing the teeth to move could require you to repeat a braces treatment.
What Types of Retainers Are There?
The most common types of retainers are:
- Hawley retainers: Made of wire and plastic, these retainers are adjustable, allowing orthodontists to make tweaks as needed during the retention period. The wire runs along the front teeth and the roof of the mouth, while a plastic plate fits against the palate for stability. Patients can still speak and eat comfortably with Hawley retainers.
- Clear plastic retainers: Made of thin, transparent plastic, these retainers are less visible in your mouth compared to the wire and plastic of Hawley retainers. However, clear retainers are not adjustable like Hawley retainers. If your teeth shift slightly, a new retainer will need to be made.
- Permanent retainers: This type of retainer is bonded to the back of your front teeth, either top or bottom. A thin wire runs along the inner surface of the teeth to hold their new position steadily. Fixed retainers provide uninterrupted retention and are not removable by the patient. Often an orthodontist will recommend a fixed lower retainer combined with a removable plastic or Hawley retainer on top.
At Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser in Virginia Beach, we can help determine the best retainer for your needs. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your consultation!
