According to a post by YouGov.com, about one in three Americans have had orthodontic treatments. Of these individuals, 28% said they’ve used one form of retainer or another.
If you’re about to get your braces or clear aligners off, you’ll also have to wear dental retainers for your teeth. Without these oral appliances, your straightened pearly whites can become misaligned again. But don’t worry; your Lakeway orthodontist will discuss your retainer options and guide you in choosing the best one for your needs.
To help set your expectations, the experts at Sing Orthodontics created this guide exploring dental retainers. Read on to discover their functions, how they work, and the top options for your smile.
Functions of Retainers
According to Healthline, the average length of time that braces stay on the teeth is one to three years. Depending on the severity of the jaw or teeth misalignment, it may take longer.
Now, imagine having waited that long to get your beautiful, healthier, and straighter teeth, only for them to start moving or “shifting” again. Your teeth can do this once your braces come off, as there would no longer be anything keeping them securely in place.
Enter retainers. They’re oral appliances designed to “retain” the position of the teeth after primary orthodontic treatment. Unlike braces, whose primary purpose is to move the teeth, retainers exist to keep the teeth, which are now in optimal location, from moving.
How Do Retainers Work?
To understand how retainers work, let’s briefly discuss what happens to your teeth and jawbone while you still have braces.
Your bones have different types of cells that regulate the remodeling of your skeleton. When you wear braces, there are two that perform the most action: osteoclasts and osteoblasts.
As your braces gradually but firmly press on your teeth, osteoclasts break down the existing bone in your mouth and jaw to help the teeth move. Osteoblasts, on the other hand, help build new bone where it requires reinforcement or ossification. Once your orthodontist in Lakeway removes your braces, osteoblasts will begin to fortify the bone holding your teeth in place.
The process takes time, so the teeth can relapse or return to their original position without a retainer. The exact way retainers work depends on the type; for example, some use wires to “lock” the teeth in place, while others cover the teeth to keep them from moving.
Dental Retainer Options
Retainers are available as removable or fixed appliances. The removable kind includes traditional Hawley retainers and clear retainers. Fixed retainers are also called “permanent retainers.”
Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers consist of a metal wire attached to an acrylic or plastic base molded to the shape of your mouth. The wire goes on the front of your teeth. The base should fit snugly in the roof (for upper arch retainers) or the floor (for lower arch retainers) of your mouth.
Over time, your Hawley retainers can become loose due to all the movement, pressure, and stress your mouth experiences. Fortunately, your Lakeway orthodontist can adjust them to ensure they always provide a snug fit.
Hawley retainers are usually the most affordable option but are the bulkiest and most obtrusive.
Clear Retainers
Clear retainers are removable retainers made of smooth, clear, BPA-free plastic that cover and hug the entire arch of your teeth. Like Hawley retainers, your orthodontist will tailor clear aligners to your pearly whites.
Because they’re clear, they’re barely noticeable. So, they’re your best option if you want a subtle approach to retaining your straight smile.
Clear retainers also provide some protection against teeth grinding or bruxism. According to SleepFoundation, this condition affects about 15% of adolescents, 8% of middle-aged adults, and 3% of older adults.
The problem is that if you grind your teeth, your clear retainers will wear away faster, and you’ll have to replace them sooner. So, before opting for clear retainers, tell your orthodontist about your bruxism first. Your oral care provider will suggest alternatives, such as a mouthpiece or nightguard, to protect your teeth (and retainers) from damage.
Another primary drawback to clear retainers is that they’re not adjustable. So, if they no longer fit perfectly over your teeth, you would need to get them replaced.
Permanent Retainers
Permanent retainers won’t last “forever” per se. They’re “permanent” because they’re not removable; your orthodontist will affix or “glue” them to the back of your teeth.
Fixed retainers are a single piece of wire. The wire itself is usually shorter than those found in Hawley retainers. However, because they go to the back of the teeth, they’re more subtle than Hawley retainers.
Another advantage of permanent retainers is that you don’t have to worry about remembering to put them in or remove them. You can think of them as a way to automatically adhere to your orthodontist’s instructions for wearing retainers.
The primary drawback to fixed retainers is their price; they’re the most expensive of your retainer options. However, that high price is mainly due to their permanence and durability.
Retainer Care Tips
Regardless of the type of retainers you choose, you should care for them and keep them clean to avoid plaque build-up. Plaque can accumulate on your retainers and, if left there, can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Here are some tips to help you care for your retainers:
- For removable retainers, clean them while they’re still wet
- Brush your removable retainers with lukewarm water after every meal
- Always use a soft-bristled brush or denture brush to clean retainers
- Floss fixed retainers at least once daily
For a deeper clean, ask your orthodontist about using a specialized cleaning solution for the type of removable retainer you have.
Visit Your Lakeway Orthodontist for Your New Retainers
Now you know retainers can be removable, fixed, and made of metal or clear plastic. You also learned that wearing them is integral to keeping your newly straightened teeth straight. So, as early as today, get your new retainers from your Lakeway orthodontist.
At Sing Orthodontics, our highly experienced doctors and staff can help you choose the best retainers for your situation. For over a decade, we’ve provided high-quality and affordable orthodontic care solutions to Lakeway and Round Rock, TX. When you visit us, you can expect our entire staff to provide you with personalized attention.
Connect with us today so we can start creating your retainers or, if you haven’t undergone one yet, your orthodontic treatment plan!
