Now that your treatment has been completed and appliances have been removed, you should schedule a cleaning and checkup appointment with your dentist. Retainers support the teeth in their corrected positions and guide them into the established occlusion. Failure to wear the retainers, even for a short time, may cause a rapid relapse; therefore, observe the following instructions:. Start Today! Living with Retainers Now that your treatment has been completed and appliances have been removed, you should schedule a cleaning and checkup appointment with your dentist.
Care and Use of Hawley Retainers Your retainers should be worn at all times. It is only necessary to remove your retainers while brushing your teeth. When you brush your teeth after every meal, brush your retainers with your toothbrush and toothpaste. DO NOT use extremely hot water when cleaning. You may soak them in retainer or denture cleaning tablets if desired. Wearing your retainers while eating is optional, but encouraged.
If you wish to remove your retainers, make sure they are placed in their protective case and stored in a safe place. 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. Because harsh bristles can damage the PVC surface of a VFR, denture cleaner or a specialized retainer cleaner is recommended for this type of device. Wear the retainer as directed — This phase of treatment is critical.
The hard work has been done, the braces are off and now it is tempting not to wear the retainer as often as the orthodontist 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.
If you have any questions or concerns about retainers, please contact our office. Highland Hills Dental Center S. Gevers, San Antonio, Texas Phone: Site Developed by ProSites. Call: 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. The acrylic arch is designed to fit comfortably on the lingual walls or palate of the mouth.
Also called wire retainers, these are removable retainers made of thin metal wire and plastic or acrylic shaped to fit the roof of your mouth or along the inside of your lower teeth.
The attached metal wire runs across the outside of your teeth to maintain alignment. These are removable retainers that are molded to perfectly fit the new position of your teeth. The technical name for them is thermoplastic or vacuum-formed retainers. To make this type of retainer, a mold of the teeth is created.
A very thin plastic or polyurethane is then heated and sucked down around the mold. The main difference in the three common brands of clear retainers is the type of plastic material they are made of. The brands are Vivera, Essix, and Zendura. Vivera is sometimes incorrectly called Invisalign. The two products are made by the same company, but Invisalign is an aligner used to straighten teeth instead of metal braces, not a retainer. Clear plastic retainers have become more and more popular and are used more often than Hawley retainers.
Permanent retainers consist of a solid or braided wire that is curved to fit the shape of your newly straightened teeth. The wire is cemented bonded to the inside of your front teeth to keep them from moving. Most often used on lower teeth, they are also called fixed, lingual wire, or bonded retainers. Although some are removed at some point, usually because of excess buildup of plaque and tarter or gum irritation, most are left in place indefinitely.
Like your teeth, permanent retainers should be cleaned daily. Using a threader can make it easier to get dental floss underneath the wire to remove food, plaque, and tartar. Find out how to clean your retainer. Even after your teeth are permanently in their new position, the effects of chewing, growth, and everyday wear can lead to relapse. So your orthodontist may recommend that you use a retainer for the rest of your life. One study showed that the most common instructions are to use a retainer all day, seven days a week for one year after braces are removed.
Once you start using your retainer, your orthodontist will want to check your teeth to be sure your retainer is keeping them from moving. They may adjust or fix the retainer or make a new one if needed. You should see your orthodontist as soon as possible if you lose your retainer or it cracks or breaks.
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