Once you finish orthodontic treatment, your orthodontic team will make a retainer for you. This part of your treatment is called retention. Retainers are a crucial part of treatment but are often regarded with much less importance by patients. Let’s talk about retainers, why they are important, and more!

What Retainers Do

Your braces or aligners move your teeth into the correct position. Unfortunately, our teeth are stubborn and try to move around even after braces shift them. This is why we use retainers. The word retain means to keep something in place. So, your retainer holds your teeth in place. Your doctor customizes the retainer to the exact position your teeth were moved to so they don’t shift.

It’s like getting your ears pierced. The needle creates the hole, but the earring holds it open. The hole will close if you take your jewelry out for too long. The process is similar. The braces create your straight smile, but the retainer holds the smile in place. Your teeth will move if you do not wear your retainer as your doctor prescribes.

Types of Retainers

Retainers can be permanent or removable. The three most common types of retainers are fixed/permanent, wire, and clear retainers.

Fixed Retainer:

These retainers are bonded (or glued) to the inside of your teeth. You cannot take them off yourself, an orthodontist would have to do it. Fixed retainers are typically placed on the front teeth (upper or lower) because they like to shift the most. You don’t have to worry about how long you’re wearing the retainer, when to put it back in, or about your front teeth shifting since it’s bonded on! Plus, you won’t see the retainer since it’s bonded to the backside of your teeth. However, you will have to worry about cleaning your teeth correctly and avoiding hard foods, much like braces.

Removable Retainer:

These retainers are not bonded to your teeth so you can take them out when needed. Removable retainers are custom fit to all your teeth, so none of them will move after treatment. It’s much easier to take care of your teeth with these retainers since you can take them out while brushing and flossing. The removable feature is nice, but you must be extremely diligent. You might be tempted to keep them out or forget to wear them, but you need to wear them to keep your teeth straight. You can also mistakenly throw them away if you aren’t careful, so keep them in their case when not in use. The best way to stay consistent with retainer use is to make them part of your routine.

There are more cosmetic options when it comes to removable retainers. Hawley Retainers are considered the “traditional” version of retainers. The wire goes around your front teeth and is attached to a piece of plastic that fits the inside of your teeth. You can customize the color of the plastic part of the retainer! The wire is visible when you talk or smile.

Clear Retainers are removable and made of plastic just like wire retainers. However, they are not visible when you talk or smile!

How long do I wear a retainer?

Your doctor will tell you when and how long to wear your retainer. The exact timing depends on your individualized treatment. Some orthodontists will have you wear your retainer day and night for 6 months and then every night after that. Others might tell you to wear your retainer only at night for the first 6 months, and then every other night after that. Regardless, you will need to follow the instructions prescribed for the rest of your life.

Remember how we said your teeth will move if you don’t wear your retainer? That never changes. It sounds crazy to hear that you must wear them that long, but you spent a lot of time and money to get them straight. Wouldn’t you be mad if they ended up shifting again? Plus, we promise it’s not hard to stay consistent! Putting in your retainer will become just another step in your bedtime routine.

The Bottomline

Retainers are a vital part of orthodontic treatment, and they aren’t that much of a hassle. You’ll need to wear your retainer consistently and keep it clean…but that’s it. Straight teeth for the rest of your life are worth an extra step at bedtime!

Read more about orthodontics here. Schedule a consultation with us!