Retainers For Your Teeth

Completing your orthodontic treatment is an exciting day! But just because your braces or Invisalign are finished doesn’t mean you are completely done with orthodontics forever. Teeth have memory and have a tendency to shift again.  This is why retainers are an important part of your treatment. Once your teeth have been straightened and your bite has been fixed with braces or aligners the retainers will hold teeth in their new positions.

Retainers are consistently worn full time for 2 months and then patients will move to using them just at night time. It’s night time for a lifetime in order to keep your teeth aligned and prevent the need for further orthodontic treatment!

What Is A Retainer?

A retainer is an orthodontic appliance that is intended to keep your teeth in alignment after the initial orthodontic treatment has been finished. There is a lifelong risk that the teeth may move back towards their original positions or shift in different ways. Proper use of retainers ensure that your teeth stay positioned where your orthodontist intended.

Your retainers are made specifically for your teeth. These customized appliances are an effective way to protect the investment you’ve made in your smile.

Why Retainers Are Important

Teeth can move because the bone that holds them in place continually breaks down and rebuilds. During “active” orthodontic treatment, the orthodontist uses braces or aligners to deliver gentle, controlled forces to guide teeth into their proper places. However, a number of forces are continually at work in the mouth that can move teeth when you bite, chew, swallow and speak. This is known as relapse and usually begins in the late teens or early twenties and continues throughout adulthood. “Relapse” describes the natural tendency of your teeth to drift back towards their original positions, even after orthodontic treatment has been completed.

To counteract these naturally-generated forces and prevent relapse, your orthodontist may advise continued retainer wear. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, the “retention” stage of orthodontic care is as important as the “active” phase of orthodontic treatment with braces or aligners.

Types of Retainers

There are two basic types of retainers: removable and bonded. Your orthodontist will evaluate your dental conditions and recommend the best type for you. Always ask your orthodontist if you have questions about the type of retainer you will be receiving. You may receive one of the following types of retainers:

Removable Hawley Wire Retainers

This type of retainer is made of metal wire and colored acrylic. The wire goes across the front of your teeth, and the acrylic is molded to fit perfectly inside your mouth. These retainers are often considered the “old-school” type of retainers but we use them for patients after phase I or early treatment since they can be adjusted as permanent teeth grow in, before a patient is ready for their phase II treatment.

Clear Essix Plastic Retainers

These are removable retainers that are a clear plastic molded to perfectly fit the new position of your teeth. The technical name for them is thermoplastic or vacuum-formed retainers. We love these retainers for most people since they have more surface area on your teeth to maintain their alignment and they’re also esthetic since they’re clear. They look very similar to Invisalign but are made of a slightly different plastic.

Bonded “Permanent” Retainers

Bonded retainers are commonly referred to as “permanent” retainers. They consist of a wire glued to the back of your teeth using a dental adhesive. They’re more common on the lower teeth but can also be used in the upper to keep a space closed or maintain good alignment. 

Many people think these retainers are superior since they won’t have to remember to wear an appliance like a hawley or essix type retainer but they do require more maintenance. These fixed retainers are much harder to clean and can break and need repair or replacement over time so do have maintenance involved with them. We still recommend having a removable retainer that fits over this type of retainer. Bonded retainers cannot be removed except by your orthodontist or dentist.

How To Take Care of Your Retainer

With proper care, retainers can last many years. However, retainers that are worn often will wear out and need to be replaced at some point. Remember that retainers are an investment to keep your teeth straight so it’s important to always have one!

Proper care of retainers includes:

• Proper daily cleaning to prevent plaque and food buildup on the retainers

• Storing removable retainers in their cases when the retainers are not in the mouth

• Keeping retainers away from heat sources, including the inside of hot cars or in hot water

• Keeping retainers away from pets

If your retainer appears to have lost its shape or if it no longer fits when you attempt to place it on your teeth, contact your orthodontist.

What Happens If Your Retainer Is Lost or Broken?

Lost and broken retainers happen. It’s important to contact your orthodontist immediately to get a replacement so your teeth don’t move. Once your teeth move, your new retainer will only hold them in that position and not make them straight again.

Avoid putting your retainer in your pocket without a case where it may get broken or wrapping it in a napkin where it often gets thrown away. It is normal for retainers to need to be replaced over time but you want to extend their use as long as possible!

If a bonded retainer becomes broken you will often feel the end of a poking end of a wire with your tongue or you will feel one of the glue pads holding the retainer is loose. Contact your orthodontist to help you repair or replace your retainers!

What Happens If Your Retainer Don’t Fit?

If a removable retainer feels tight when you try to put it into place, your teeth may have moved slightly. This happens often when retainers are not worn for enough time each day. 

If you can get the retainer in, wear it full time for 2 weeks to try to get your teeth back on track. This will make your teeth sore as your teeth are being pushed back into place. After 2 weeks you can move back to wearing each night.

If you have a hawley retainer after phase I treatment, as your remaining permanent teeth are growing in the retainer may not fit properly. Call your orthodontist to adjust the retainer.

If your retainers feel too loose, call your orthodontist. Retainers can sometimes be tightened depending on the type of retainer but it may be recommended to make a new retainer. 

Retainers, Braces and Aligners Specialist In Chapel Hill

At Morgenstern Orthodontics, a top-rated orthodontist in Chapel Hill NC, we help patients find the most effective retainers for them as well as other orthodontic treatments. When you complete orthodontic treatment, Dr. Morgenstern will discuss the retainer options with you. If you already have a retainer but need it adjusted, repaired or replaced then we can help!

We invite you to read our patient reviews and view Before & After photos to see the results of our work. Contact us today with any questions about your retainer or other orthodontics concerns.