Most of you have heard that when your braces come off, you will wear a retainer. This is intended to help you understand the importance of retainers and what they are.
Retainers
are custom-made devices, made usually of wires or clear plastic, that
hold teeth in position after any method of straightening teeth. They are
most often used after braces
to hold teeth in position while allowing the gums and bone to remodel
itself around the newly positioned teeth. Most patients are required to
wear their retainer(s) 24 hours a day at first until further instructed,
then you may wear the retainers at night only to hold the teeth. There are three types of retainers typically prescribed by orthodontists and dentists: Hawley, Essix, and Bonded (Fixed) retainers.
A Hawley is a retainer with acrylic on the palate (roof of the mouth) and a wire going across the front of the teeth. Kids love these retainers, as they can pick their favorite color for the acrylic (shown in white here). It is removable only to eat and brush (until instructed to wear at night only)
An Essix retainer looks just like an Invisalign tray or a bleaching tray. It is made of a hard plastic that will hold the teeth in place just as the Hawley retainer does. It is also removable with the same instructions as the Hawley retainer.
A Fixed retainer, or permanent retainer is a different type of retainer than the 2 above. A fixed retainer typically consists of a passive wire bonded
to the tongue-side of the teeth (usually on the Lower teeth only,
depending on the bite). Unlike the previously-mentioned retainer types,
fixed retainers cannot be removed by the patient.
Some doctors prescribe fixed retainers regularly, especially where
active orthodontic treatments have effected great changes in the bite
and there is a high risk for reversal of these changes. This retainer is often kept in place for life. Fixed retainers may lead to tartar build-up or gingivitis
due to the difficulty of flossing while wearing these retainers. As
with dental braces, patients often must use floss threaders to pass
dental floss through the small space between the retainer and the teeth. We will help you understand how to take care of this retainer!!
OK, now I know you have questions:
How long do I wear these retainers? Well, the answer is NOT simple. Truthfully,
retainers are for LIFETIME, because our teeth continue to shift
throughout life (whether we have had braces or not), and when you have
had braces, you do risk relapse even several years after braces come
off. So, to make it easy for
you, my plan for retainers is to do a fixed retainer on the bottom teeth
(since those are always first to relapse), and the clear Essix retainer
on the top. After about 4-6 months, you will only be required to wear the essix at night, so it is not too bad having to wear the retainers.
So my answer to the question is: You wear your retainers AS LONG AS YOU WANT YOUR TEETH TO STAY STRAIGHT!!!!
