After months or years of wearing braces to straighten your teeth and improve your smile, the last thing you want is a relapse of your treatment. You might even have questions about why your teeth won’t just remain in their new position or if you have different retainer options. Continue reading to learn more about why you need a retainer, how they work, various retainer options, and what happens if you fail to wear a retainer.
To learn more about how you can have straighter teeth and a brighter smile, schedule an appointment with Trident General Dentistry.
What are Retainers For?
After wearing orthodontic braces for a couple of years, you or your child relish the thought of not wearing anything on your teeth. However, you likely need to wear a retainer to ensure you enjoy your straight teeth and new smile for years to come. The reasons for wearing a retainer include:
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Holding your teeth in their new position. If you wear braces to correct significant problems with the position of your teeth, a retainer is critical to the long-term success of maintaining an optimal bite. This is especially true if you have an overbite, underbite, severely displaced teeth, or close significant gaps between your teeth.
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Stabilizing your new bite. It isn’t only your teeth that need time to adjust to their new position. The surrounding bones and gums must also adapt to the changes of newly positioned teeth and how they function with the opposing teeth for speech and chewing.
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Preventing reversal of orthodontic movement. One of the primary motivators for wearing a retainer is to prevent the loss of time and expense to get your teeth straight. In many cases, failure to properly wear a retainer leads to the reversal of treatment and the need to start over again with new braces.
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Accelerating bone and ligament formation. Moving your teeth places significant stress on the ligaments surrounding your teeth. These ligaments and the adjacent bone need time to reform and stabilize to keep your teeth in place. Wearing a retainer speeds this process and may allow not needing a retainer in the future.
How do Retainers Work?
The fact that your teeth do not inflexibly rest as if cemented into your jawbone allows your dentist to move them into a better position. Instead of a rigid attachment to their surrounding bone, teeth attach by way of a thin ligament. This elastic ligament lines the bony socket and contains blood supply and nerve tissue. By placing a prolonged and slight pressure on the tooth, it moves by stretching the ligament on one side of the tooth and dissolving it on the opposing side. As the tooth comes into its new position, the side with the dissolved ligament must reform this necessary tissue. The stretched ligament also must reform during this process. As this ligament transformation occurs, the hard bony tissue also must be regenerating to supply adequate support for teeth in their straighter position.
Unfortunately, when your braces come off, a different process begins to return your teeth to their original position. This is a type of muscle memory that pulls on the new ligament. The retainer prevents this by holding your teeth in their new position until the ligament and bone matures and can hold the teeth. In cases where teeth require a great deal of movement, you may need to wear a retainer a few hours each day to prevent a relapse of orthodontic treatment.
1. Guide to: Hawley Retainer
The Hawley retainer is one of the most popular, trusted, and time-tested retainers used after orthodontic braces. This removable retainer is composed of a plastic or acrylic base that fits snugly against the roof of your mouth or behind your lower teeth. Metal wires fit against selected teeth to hold the retainer in place.
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Advantages
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Adjustable if necessary.
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Customized color.
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Durable.
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Easy to clean.
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No food restrictions.
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Facilitates easier oral hygiene.
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Disadvantages
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Noticeable wires.
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Uncomfortable plastic plate.
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Can interfere with speech.
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May irritate gums and lips.
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Requires compliance.
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Susceptible to breaking or losing.
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2. Guide to: Clear Retainers
Clear retainers continue to gain popularity compared with more traditional fixed and removable retainers. These retainers offer a more esthetic, comfortable, and affordable option than other options. Three common clear retainers, Essix, Vivera, and Zendura, are discussed below.
3. Essix Retainer
Essix retainers are a set of removable clear plastic retainers that you wear regularly. Your dentist makes the Essix retainer by molding it to your mouth for a custom fit. Essix retainers are also called overlay retainers because they completely cover all your teeth to hold them in place. Although the average lifespan is approximately two years, they are reasonably durable if taken care of properly. They may last up to three years or more.
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Advantages
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Esthetically pleasing due to their transparency.
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Easily cleaned.
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No dietary restrictions.
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Requires no special oral hygiene devices.
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Proven history of excellent results.
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Excellent patient compliance.
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One of the more affordable retainers.
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Disadvantages
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Not as sturdy as some other retainers.
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Difficult to repair.
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Susceptible to warping when exposed to hot temperatures.
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Discolors over time.
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Non-adjustable.
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Requires more frequent replacement than other options, such as a Hawley retainer.
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4. Vivera Retainers
Invisalign clear aligners are a popular orthodontic treatment option instead of traditional metal orthodontic braces and wires. After completion of Invisalign treatment, a clear retainer known as Vivera is worn to hold teeth in place. If you wear the Invisalign aligners, you benefit from their similarity to your retainer. Vivera retainers are made of the same material as the aligners to offer patients comparable comfort and convenience. The significant difference from the Invisalign aligners is the thicker construction of the retainers for increased durability. Invisalign promotes Vivera retainers as 30% stronger than other clear retainers and a higher than average doctor satisfaction with Vivera results. This retainer has similar advantages and disadvantages as the Essix retainer.
5. Zendura Retainer
Zendura is a polymer material known for advancing the science of clear orthodontic retainers. It is widely considered the gold standard for toughness, stain and crack resistance, impact strength, and durability. Zendura retainers are pressure molded to provide increased retention to all surfaces of each tooth. Additionally, Zendura retainers are exceptionally clear and applicable for patients who excessively grind their teeth.
6. Wire Retainer
This is a fixed or permanent retainer that you can’t remove. It typically consists of an orthodontic wire bonded to the back of your upper or lower teeth. These are especially helpful for patients who desire extra security while their teeth adapt to their new positions. A wire retainer offers a firmer guarantee that your teeth remain in the precise position obtained by your braces. It is essential to follow your dentist’s instructions on how long to wear the retainer and the necessity of seeking treatment if the wire loosens or breaks. One of the disadvantages of a wire retainer is the critical attention to oral hygiene. Special cleaning devices such as floss threaders are needed to clean the spaces under the wire. Since plaque accumulates more easily around the wire, brushing and flossing are critical to the success of a wire retainer.
7. Bottom Retainer
You may receive a removable retainer such as a Hawley or a clear one for your upper teeth and a fixed or permanent retainer for your lower teeth. This is a common treatment combination and usually involves the placement of a lingual orthodontic wire bonded to the back of your lower teeth.
What If I Don’t Wear My Retainer?
One of the disadvantages to a removable retainer is that you need to remember to wear it as instructed by your dentist. You might miss a day or two without experiencing any relapse, but going weeks could result in significant tooth movement. After you miss a short time, your retainer may fit more snugly and cause some discomfort. You should not force your retainer into place if it does not go in smoothly.
How Long Does A Retainer Last?
The longevity of your retainer depends on the type of retainer you wear and how well you maintain it.
Removable Retainers. Removable retainers such as the Hawley and clear plastic retainers can last as long as ten years. However, since they are exposed to wear and tear, they may have a shorter life span. Typically, acrylic retainers offer more years of use than plastic ones. However, you should inspect either type regularly for cracks, chips, discoloration, and loss of a tight fit.
Bonded or Permanent Retainers. Eating and brushing your teeth can loosen the attachment of these retainers to your teeth. The average lifespan of these retainers, such as the fixed lingual retainer, is about three years. However, lower retainers may exceed three years due to less stress placed on these than the upper ones.
Maintenance Tips. Taking care of your retainer can prolong its life. Bonded retainers last longer if you practice excellent oral hygiene and minimize hard and sticky foods. Removable retainers can last longer if you:
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Keep your retainer in a protective case when you aren’t wearing it.
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Keep your retainer in a safe place out of the reach of small children and pets.
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Do not bend or play with the retainer.
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Keep your retainer clean by brushing and rinsing as directed.
Schedule an Appointment
Our goal is optimal oral health, including having the smile you can be proud of. To learn more, contact Trident General Dentistry to schedule a comprehensive dental examination and professional teeth cleaning.