We’re curious: How much do you know about retainers off the top of your head? If the answer is, “not much,” you’re probably not alone! Williams Orthodontics wants to change this by giving you some information on how these appliances work, and why retainers are necessary after braces.
The Retention Phase
Retention is a word we use for the phase of orthodontics you reach once your active treatment (braces or clear aligners) concludes. It’s incredibly important, especially in the first year or so after treatment, to make sure your teeth remain as they are. The main tool we use for retention is a retainer.
- Transitioning Period: After braces, your teeth and surrounding tissues aren’t able to adjust immediately. The retention phase is used to solidify these changes, reducing your teeth’s risk of relapse.
- Protecting Jaw and Bone Health: The bones and ligaments around your teeth need time to rebuild and adjust, kind of like the roots of a tree taking hold. Retainers help maintain alignment while these internal structures strengthen and adapt.
- Consistency Is Everything: The secret to this indefinite phase is consistency—wearing your retainer as instructed, whether full-time or at night, guarantees that your months or years of hard work wearing braces aren’t undone.
How Retainers Are Made
It’s helpful to have an idea of how retainers are made and how Dr. Williams goes about selecting them for our patients. Much like a pair of shoes, they’re hardly one-size-fits-all.
- First Impressions: Once your braces are finally taken off, we’ll take more digital scans of your teeth. These serve as our blueprint for crafting a retainer that fits your new alignment perfectly.
- Material Choice: There are several varieties of retainers we can choose from. Hawley retainers are typically made from durable acrylic and wire, or we can opt for clear plastic retainers that resemble clear aligners. Fixed retainers use a thin wire attached to the back of your teeth.
- Custom Fitting: Your bespoke retainer is molded and adjusted in our office for maximum comfort and functionality. This follow-up appointment lets us make sure your new retainer fits snugly and works effectively.
An Appropriate Course of Action
Retainers represent the same basic function across all ages and conditions: Keeping your lovely new smile in place for good. But there are some qualities that vary from kids to adults and from simple to complex cases, which we’ll take into consideration.
Children and Adolescents:
- For our youngest patients, retainers are especially instrumental as their jaws and teeth are still actively growing. This makes teeth more prone to shifting without closely monitoring the retention phase after braces are removed.
- Growth spurts can also impact alignment, which is also why strict retainer use is vital.
Adults
- Our adult patients tend to experience slower movement, but teeth can still shift without being managed. Daily wear, especially during sleep, helps to prevent this natural shifting.
- Adults tend to prefer clear plastic retainers or fixed retainers for their discreet appearance.
Complex Cases
- When patients have required extensive orthodontic corrections, such as for severe crowding or bite issues, they often require more than one type of orthodontic appliance during active treatment. This extends to the retention phase, where we may opt for a combination of fixed and removable retainers for long-term stability.
FAQs
Finally, we’ll discuss some common retainer questions that are brought up by our patients at Williams Orthodontics:
Q: Can retainers fix shifted teeth?
Retainers are made to maintain alignment, not to move teeth. If your teeth have shifted a lot due to a period of unuse, you may need additional orthodontic treatment to realign them.
Q: How do I keep my retainer clean?
Definitely avoid using toothpaste or any strongly scented soaps. You’ll always fare best with a mild soap or special cleaning solution to ensure your retainer is staying sanitized and hygienic after you wear it.
Q: What should I do if my retainer doesn’t fit anymore?
If you ever reach a point where you can tell something is off with the fit of your retainer, it’s vital that you don’t just ignore the feeling. It could mean some shifting has occurred, or that it’s been warped or misshapen somehow. When your retainer isn’t fitting exactly right, it’s unable to do its job properly.
A Smile Worth Saving
Your retainer really is the cherry on top of your orthodontic treatment. Maintaining correct use of it is the final piece of your new smile’s puzzle, which is why Dr. Williams stresses the importance of it. All questions are welcome at our two exceptional offices in Monroe and El Dorado.