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What Is a Retainer?
Unlike your braces or aligners, retainers do not normally move teeth. Sometimes, retainers are used to move teeth gently, but these movements are minor.
Retainers work to retain teeth in their new positions. Just like your braces, retainers are custom-made but should feel more comfortable to wear since they are merely retaining your teeth and not moving them.
Why Are Retainers Necessary?
Orthodontics is designed to move teeth and their associated tooth roots, meaning the roots must also move through your jawbone. After teeth are straightened, it takes time for your jawbone to remodel and for new bone to grow around the tooth roots.
Additionally, it will take time for your facial muscles and gums to adjust to the new positions of your teeth, especially if significant tooth movements are required. Unless you wear retainers, there is a real risk that your teeth will return to their original positions.
Understanding the Different Retainers Available
There are several types of retainers available, including fixed and removable options. Usually, only one or the other is recommended, but sometimes we suggest having both a fixed retainer and a removable retainer to ensure your teeth remain fully straightened.
The treatment plan we will recommend will depend on your preference and oral health.
Fixed Retainers
Fixed retainers consist of a thin, custom-made wire that is specially adapted to fit on the inner surfaces of your teeth and bond it permanently in place. We can use fixed retainers to hold the upper and lower teeth in place.
Removable Retainers
Removable retainers can be removed from your mouth at any time. There are several types available, including:
- Invisalign Vivera retainers.
- Hawley retainers.
- Essix retainers.
- Invisalign Vivera Retainers
If you straighten your teeth using aligners, we will almost certainly recommend using Vivera retainers after completing your Invisalign treatment. These are made from the same clear plastic material and designed to fit comfortably and discreetly over your teeth, allowing them to be used to retain both upper and lower teeth.
- Hawley Retainers
Hawly retainers consist of a clear acrylic base with orthodontic wires that are custom-made to fit around your back teeth, holding the retainer firmly in place. Another wire fits across the front teeth, ensuring the retainer cannot move.
We can supply custom-made Hawley retainers to fit both upper and lower teeth.
- Essix Retainers
Essix retainers are extremely similar to Invisalign retainers. They are made from clear plastic and custom-made to fit comfortably over your upper or lower teeth, or can be supplied to fit both arches. There are no wires with an Essix retainer.
Making and Fitting Retainers
The process for making and fitting retainers is very quick, non-invasive, and painless. The exact procedure depends on the type of retainer you choose.
Fixed Retainers
The wire for a fixed retainer must be custom-made to fit the exact shape of your tooth surfaces. Once ready, we can bond it to your teeth. You would not need any dental anesthetic for this procedure.
Removable Retainers
Creating and fitting a removable retainer is slightly more complex, as we must take a digital dental impression of your teeth. The digital impression is sent to our dental lab, where they will custom-make your retainer according to our prescription.
Once the retainers are ready, you return to our dental office, and we show you how to insert and remove them, ensuring they fit comfortably.
Ensuring You Wear Your Retainers Correctly
Fixed Retainers
If your retainer is fixed, there is no need to worry, as it remains permanently in place and can last for years.
Removable Retainers
Most people need to wear their retainers continuously for up to six months after completing orthodontic treatment. After this, we can review your oral health and will recommend gradually reducing the number of hours you wear your tooth retainer.
We strongly recommend that you continue to wear your removable retainers overnight, at least once or twice a week, for the rest of your life. This is to ensure you don’t experience an orthodontic relapse, as your teeth may start shifting back to their original positions.
Hawley Retainer vs Essix Retainer
Both Hawley and Essix retainers work effectively and are removable, making them easy to keep clean. Just like removable aligners, both must be taken out for meals and oral care.
Hawley retainers are slightly more visible in the mouth due to the wire across the front teeth. However, this wire is very thin.
Essix retainer trays are less visible. If you straighten your teeth using clear aligners, you will likely want to have an Essix retainer afterward, as it will feel very familiar, is extremely discreet, and is easy to use.
FAQs
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How Long Will My Retainer Last?
Your retainer could last for several years, especially if it is fixed onto your teeth. We recommend bringing your removable retainers to your regular checkups so we can assess their condition and recommend replacement if they show signs of wear and tear.
If you have a fixed retainer, then we will check the wire regularly during dental exams and can replace it if it breaks or comes loose.
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What If I Don’t Wear Retainers Regularly?
Failing to wear your retainers regularly can lead to unwanted tooth movements, so you may discover that when you try to reinsert the retainer, it no longer fits properly. In this case, we might be able to adjust the retainer or remake it. We may recommend further orthodontic treatment to reposition teeth that have relapsed after an initial orthodontic treatment.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th Street, 8th Floor, Suite 2
New York, NY 10017
(212) 810-9264