Today is the day you have been waiting for; your braces are finally coming off! Does this mean you can throw in the towel on caring for your smile? Not so fast, you’re smile journey is not over yet. In order to keep your perfect smile you are going to have to wear a retainer.
Why should you wear a retainer?
Wearing a retainer enables your teeth to stay in their new, proper position while your gums, ligaments and bones adapt. When you wear your retainer, you’re protecting your investment, and beautiful new smile.
The result of not wearing your retainer:
Now before you say you don’t need to wear a retainer anymore, you should know that as you get older, your teeth will continue to shift. The slightest pressure from your tongue can cause your teeth to shift out of alignment. Every year about 25% of patients have to repeat their orthodontic treatment because they failed to wear their retainers as required. You don’t want to repeat your treatment, protect your smile by giving your teeth the support they need to stay in place and wear your retainer as directed.
More about our retainers
Just as you can choose between traditional braces or Invisalign, retainers are available in a variety of forms. Here are three types of retainers Bennett Orthodontics offers:
Essix Retainer
This is a clear or transparent retainer that fits over the entire arch of teeth. These retainers are specially made from impressions of your teeth to fit comfortably and discretely. An upper and lower Essix retainer will be given to each patient upon completion of orthodontic treatment.
Hawley Retainer
This is a removable retainer made of a combination of metal wires and sturdy acrylic. This retainer is specially made from impressions of your teeth so that it fits comfortably in the roof of your mouth, while any wire or acrylic framing keeps your teeth in perfect position.
Bonded Lingual Retainer
Bonded lingual retainers are cemented directly to the inside surfaces of your lower front teeth. This is a great way to prevent your lower teeth from shifting as it is bonded into place. Patients with bonded lingual retainers must be careful with their bite as the bonding material may break due to incorrect biting. It is important to note that some patients may not be candidates for this type of retainer.
While a retainer may seem like a pain, it will keep your new pearly whites looking their best.