Retainers

A retainer is a key part of your Orthodontic treatment, and it only does its job in your mouth. Wearing your retainer after braces is the best way to preserve your healthy smile and prevent teeth from shifting back into their original positions.

What types of retainer are available?

Dr. Christopherson decides on which type of retention is best based on the nature of the original diagnosis and Orthodontic treatment plan.

The following are some of the most common types of retainers:

• Hawley retainer – The Hawley retainer consists of a metal wire on an acrylic arch.  The metal wire may be periodically adjusted to ensure the teeth stay in the desired position.  
  
  
• Essix or Clear retainer – The Essix or Clear retainer is the most commonly used formed retainer.  A digital image is made of the teeth, a 3D model produced and our lab fabricates the retainer off of the model. 
  
  
• Fixed retainers – A fixed retainer is somewhat similar to a lingual brace in that it is affixed to the tongue side of a few teeth.  Usually, a fixed retainer is used in cases where there has been either rapid or substantial movement of the teeth.  It usually consists of a single wire.  The inclination of the teeth to move rapidly means they are also more likely to regress back to their previous position if a fixed retainer is not placed.

Retainer Tips:

USE the retainer case:  – Removable retainers are very easy to lose.  It is advisable to place your retainer in the case it came in while eating, drinking, and brushing.  Leaving a retainer folded in a napkin at a restaurant or in a public restroom can be very costly if lost because a replacement must be created.  A brightly colored case serves as a great reminder.

Don’t drink while wearing a retainer – It is tempting to drink while wearing a retainer because of the unobtrusive nature of the device.  However, excess liquid trapped under the trays can vastly intensify acid exposure to teeth, increasing the probability of tooth decay.

Don’t eat while wearing a retainer – It can be difficult and awkward to eat while wearing a removable retainer and it can also damage the device.  Food can get trapped around a Hawley retainer wire or underneath the palate, causing bad breath.  When worn on the upper and lower arches simultaneously, VFR retainers do not allow the teeth to meet.  This means that chewing is almost impossible.

Clean the retainer properly – Removable retainers can become breeding grounds for calculus and bacteria.  It is essential to clean the inside and outside thoroughly as often as possible.  Hawley retainers can be cleaned with a toothbrush.  Harsh bristles can damage the surface of a clear retainer, denture cleaner or a specialized retainer cleaner is recommended for this type of retainer.

Wear the retainer as directed –  The hard work has been done; the braces are off, and now it is tempting not to wear the retainer as often as Dr. Christopherson recommends.  Retainers are needed to give the muscles, tissues, and bones time to stabilize the teeth in their new alignment. Failure to wear the retainer as directed can have regrettable consequences, such as teeth returning to their original position, added expense, and lost time.