The last thing you want after investing in a beautiful smile is for your teeth to shift back despite orthodontic treatment. This is where orthodontic retention comes in. We offer custom-made retainers to help maintain your teeth’s new alignment after the removal of your braces or aligners.
Understanding orthodontic retainers is crucial, whether you are near the end of your orthodontic journey or at the beginning. Washington Orthodontics provides comprehensive orthodontic retention options tailored to your specific needs. We help ensure your smile stays perfect for years to come.
What is a Retainer?
A retainer is a custom-made orthodontic device designed to hold your teeth in the their new corrected positions. These appliances work by maintaining the tension on the periodontal ligaments surrounding your teeth. This allows them the time to reorganize and stabilize in their new positions. Without orthodontic retention, your teeth tend to drift back toward their original positions, which could undo months or years of orthodontic work.
4 Types of Retainers
- Removable Hawley Retainers: These traditional retainers feature an acrylic base that fits against the roof of your mouth or behind lower teeth, with a visible wire that wraps around the front teeth. They are durable and adjustable.
- Clear Plastic Retainers: These transparent devices fit snugly over your entire dental arch. They’re nearly invisible when worn and don’t affect speech as much as other options.
- Fixed Retainers: These consist of a thin wire bonded to the back of your front teeth. Since they can’t be removed, they provide continuous retention without relying on patient compliance.
- Combination Approaches: Some orthodontists recommend wearing both fixed and removable retainers.
When do you need Retainers?
After Braces or Clear Aligners
During orthodontic treatment, your teeth are physically moved through the bone. However, the supporting tissues need time to reorganize and stabilize around the teeth in their new positions. Without a retainer, your teeth can shift back within days of having braces removed, negating the entire treatment process.
To Address Minor Tooth Movement
For slight spacing or crowding problems, a retainer might provide enough pressure to make small corrections. This approach is typically limited to minor issues and often serves as an intermediate solution. Follow-up appointments are essential for determining if comprehensive orthodontic treatment is needed.
To Prevent Relapse of Previous Orthodontic Work
If you’ve had orthodontic treatment and your teeth start to shift again, your orthodontist might recommend a retainer to prevent further movement. This intervention can stop regression before it becomes severe enough to require another round of braces or aligners.
How Long Will You Wear Retainers?
The typical retainer schedule begins with full-time wear (20-22 hours daily) for the first 3-6 months after braces removal. After this initial phase, most orthodontists gradually reduce wear time to nighttime only. Contrary to what many patients believe, some form of retention is often recommended indefinitely.
First 3-6 months
Full-time wear (20-22 hours daily) is typically recommended after metal braces removal or completion of aligner therapy. This critical period allows the bone to rebuild around your teeth in their new positions and provides maximum stability during the initial adjustment phase.
6 months to 1 year
Most patients transition to nighttime-only wear during this period, though your orthodontist may recommend continuing full-time wear if your teeth show signs of wanting to shift.
1+ years
Long-term maintenance usually involves wearing orthodontic appliances at night indefinitely. Some patients may eventually reduce to 3-5 nights per week, but this varies widely based on individual needs and how stable your teeth remain.
What happens if I never wear my retainer again?
Teeth Shifting (Relapse)
Without consistent retainer wear, teeth begin shifting back toward their original positions. This process is called orthodontic relapse. It often begins within days of stopping retainer use and can progress rapidly during the first year after treatment. The periodontal ligaments that hold teeth in place maintain a “memory” of their previous positions. They will gradually pull your teeth back if not properly restrained. Even patients with years of stable results may experience shifting if retainer use is discontinued.
Need for Retreatment
Significant tooth movement after abandoning retainer wear often necessitates additional orthodontic treatment. This retreatment typically requires another full course of braces or aligners. Many orthodontists report that a substantial percentage of their adult patients are people who had braces as teenagers but didn’t wear their orthodontic appliances as directed.
Bite Problems and Dental Health Issues
When teeth shift out of alignment, they can create new bite problems or exacerbate existing ones. Improper bite alignment or malocclusion. places uneven forces on certain teeth. This potentially leads to excessive wear, chipping, or fracturing. Additionally, crowded teeth become more difficult to clean, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease.
How to Clean A Retainer
- Rinse immediately after removal: Always rinse your retainer with lukewarm water as soon as you take it out of your mouth. This removes saliva and loose debris before they can harden on the appliance. Avoid hot water as it can warp plastic orthodontic appliances.
- Brush gently daily: Use a soft toothbrush and mild, non-abrasive toothpaste or liquid soap to clean your retainer daily. Brush gently to avoid scratching the material, which can create places for bacteria to hide.
- Soak regularly in cleaning solution: Weekly soaking in specialized cleaning solutions or a mixture of water and baking soda helps remove buildup that brushing might miss.
- Avoid harmful substances: Never use bleach, alcohol-based mouthwash, or boiling water on your retainer as these can damage the materials or create toxic residues. Keep orthodontic appliances away from heat sources as this can cause the material to warp or melt.
- Store properly when not in use: Always keep your removable orthodontic device in its case when not in your mouth to prevent loss or damage. Leave the case slightly open when the retainer is damp to allow airflow and prevent bacterial growth.
- For permanent retainers: Use floss threaders or interdental brushes to clean underneath the wire daily. This area commonly accumulates plaque and calculus if neglected.
What are the benefits of wearing a Retainer?
Preserves Your Orthodontic Investment
Wearing your orthodontic appliance as prescribed protects the investment you’ve made in your orthodontic treatment. The average cost of braces or clear aligners ranges from $3,000 to $8,000. By consistently using your device, you ensure these funds weren’t spent in vain. Additionally, orthodontic retention is relatively inexpensive compared to retreatment costs. This makes it an economical way to maintain your results over time.
Maintains Proper Tooth Alignment and Function
Beyond aesthetics, properly aligned teeth function better for biting, chewing, and speaking. Orthodontic retention helps maintain this functional alignment. This helps prevent dental issues that can develop with misaligned teeth. The even distribution of bite forces also reduces stress on your jaw joints, helping prevent TMJ disorders and facial pain.
Supports Overall Oral Health
Well-aligned teeth are significantly easier to clean effectively. When you maintain proper spacing between teeth, your toothbrush and floss can access all tooth surfaces more easily, reducing plaque buildup and leftover food particles in your mouth. This improved oral hygiene access helps lower the risks of tooth decay and gum disease over time.
Prevents Age-Related Dental Changes
As we age, natural changes in our jaw bones and soft tissues can cause teeth to shift regardless of previous orthodontic treatment. Regular wear can counteract these age-related changes, helping maintain your smile throughout your lifetime. This preventive approach is particularly important as you get older, when dental shifting can combine with other age-related oral issues like gum recession or bone density changes to create more complex dental problems.
Conclusion
Your retainer plays an essential role in preserving the results of your orthodontic treatment. Whether you choose removable or permanent options, consistent use and proper care of your retainer will ensure your teeth remain properly aligned for years to come.
Don’t let your hard-earned smile slip away due to overlooking this vital step in your orthodontic journey. Schedule an appointment with Washington Orthodontics today to discuss your retainer options or address any concerns about your current retention plan. For more helpful orthodontic tips and information, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, where we regularly share valuable content to help you maintain your perfect smile.
