Care Following Orthodontic Braces - Retainers
After Orthodontic Braces have been removed from a patient's teeth, it is imperative that the teeth 'retain' the position that they are now in after treatment. Braces initially get your teeth looking all nice and straight, but your gums have a good memory and can force your teeth back into misalignment if care is not taken to keep them straight. This is why Orthodontic Retainers are used.
There are several different types of Orthodontic Retainers available that may help keep your teeth stay straight after your braces have been removed. The three most widely used tooth retaining systems are:
- Hawley Retainer: - The most widely used orthodontic retainer system is the Hawley Retainer. This retainer system is made of a labial wire, called the Hawley bow (named after the inventor), which is attached to a piece of acrylic that forms an arch that mimics the shape of the roof of a patient's mouth. The acrylic part of the retainer sits comfortably on the roof of the patient's mouth and the wire wraps around the front of the teeth to keep them in place. The wire is adjustable and allows the dentist to make easy changes, if necessary, to keep the teeth in their proper place.
- Essix: - Often called the Clear Retainer, and often mistaken for Clear Braces, the Essix is popular due to the use of transparent materials and the fact that they cost less than the other retainer systems. The benefit of the Essix retainer is that it is custom for each patient and fits snugly over the teeth. The Essix is also called a vacuum-formed retainer (VFR) and is made of extremely thin PVC material.
- Fixed retainers: - When a patient has undergone orthodontic therapy that involved moving the teeth quickly or considerably, the teeth can quickly spring back into their old positions without the use of a fixed retaining system. A Fixed Retainer is a single metal wire which will be attached to the lingual, or tongue, side of the teeth.
Caring for Your Retainer
Proper care for your retainer will ensure you get the most of it. Please read our tips about proper retainer care:
- Wear Your Retainer Properly - When you wear your retainer as directed by the dentist you are sure to have a successful orthodontic outcome. We urge our patients to follow our guidelines on how often and how long they should wear their retainers. The benefits to doing so are to ensure your teeth stay as beautiful as they are now after treatment. Also, the better you care for your teeth, you will make less visits to the dentist; which means less time and less expense.
- Do Not Consume Beverages or Food While Wearing - Eating food or drinking beverages while wearing the retainer can either harm the device, your teeth, or cause bad breath. Food and beverages will get caught under the device and can cause rapid tooth decay. Chewing food while wearing the retainers can also put undue stress on the materials and potentially break them.
- Clean Your Retainer Thoroughly - Throughly cleaning your retainer, in the proper manner, is important so bacteria and calculus do not accumulate and cause tooth decay and other health issues. Depending on the type of retainer you receive, we will give you instruct you on the best cleaning solution and tools you can use to keep your retainer in good working condition.
- Keep Track of Your Retainer - Do not lose it! Keep your retainer in the case we give to you when you receive the retainer. When you are out at restaurants or other places and need to take out your retainer, be sure to put it in your case and put the case in your pocket. Cases and retainers tend to get left behind when they are set on a table, chair, napkin, or other place. At home, when you take your retainer out, be sure to put it in the same place every time, so you can easily find it again.
If you have any questions about our services or your orthodontic retainer, you may contact us at 281-492-6064.
