Retainers
There is life after braces! It just includes retainers!
Quick Facts
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With a similar look to Invislign, clear retainers have become the most popular and common retainer type. Being clear they are the most esthetic option and interfere less with speech. They are excellent retainers.
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Like most things old school - An oldie but a goodie! These retainers have acrylic on the lingual (tongue) side of the teeth and are held in place by metal clasps and bars. These are the most durable retainer option.
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These are also referred to as fixed retainers or lingual retainers. This type of retainer is a wire bar bonded (glued) to the lingual (tongue side) of the teeth. The most common site for this type of retainer is the lower canine to canine area. They can also be helpful to hold gaps closed on upper teeth; although sometimes the bite can interfere. Dr. Goforth likes to support bonded retainers with a clear overlay retainer to ensure all teeth are retained, including those not included in the bonded retainer. As with all retainers, it is very important to keep these retainers clean and to recognize that like braces, they are simply bonded to the teeth and can break away from the teeth.
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Night Time for Lifetime… Or, as long as you want your teeth straight. Dr. Goforth says this all the time because it is true. The reason we can offer braces at any age is because the bones of the jaws always respond to forces. While the teeth will never go all the way back to their original position they will likely relapse without proper retainer wear. The amount of relapse is impossible to predict as there are multiple factors. Typically at the completion of your treatment we recommend full time retainer wear until your teeth are ready to taper to night time only wear. This process usually only takes a few months and is different for everyone. Listen to your teeth - the teeth don’t lie. If your retainer feels tight it means you are not wearing it enough. If it fits, going all the way down over your teeth without feeling tight it means you are wearing it enough. It is as simple as that.
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Our team will discuss specifics based on your precise retainers and treatment protocol. All retainers should be kept clean. Just like teeth, if you clean them daily they are easy to clean, but if you let the plaque build-up and harden on the retainer it becomes very hard to remove. Always use a nonabrasive cleaner. Toothpaste can cause small scratches to the retainer making them harder to clean. If not being worn, retainers should be safely kept in their case to avoid damage.
Take care of your retainer
and it will take care of you
Common Ways Retainers Become Damaged or Lost
Wrapped in a napkin and thrown in the trash: This is the most common way retainers get lost or damaged. No matter how many times we warn people, the desire to wrap them up in a napkin and place them on the table is so strong for most people. The unfortunate result is the retainers get tossed with the garbage and you either have to go dumpster diving or get a new retainer.
Dogs chew them: Dogs love you and they love the way you smell. This unfortunately means they will turn your retainers into a chew toy if given the chance! Don’t let them by keeping them safely in your case in a drawer or a on a shelf your pet cannot get to. I have heard of cats doing the same, but dogs are the main culprit here! Bad dog, Bad human!
Placed in your lap and then lost, or stepped on when you stand up. This can happen anywhere but commonly occurs in the car. Once you step out of the car the retainer falls onto the ground.
Left in a hot car in hot Idaho summer day: They are heat-formed bioplastic. If heat forms them then heat can deform them - aka - they melt.
Boiling them: Same logic as point #4… do not boil them to clean them. Do not use excessively hot water to clean them. They will melt.
Put directly in a pocket or inside a bag without being in a case resulting in them being squished or distorted.
Retainer Cleaning Tips
Clean Daily. Retainers are easy to clean and keep clean as long as you don’t allow the build-up to stick to and harden on the retainer surface.
Brush with a toothbrush but do NOT use toothpaste. Toothpaste is abrasive and will scratch the retainer. Bacteria and build-up hide in these tiny scratches making the retainers even harder to keep clean.
Us a non abrasive cleaner, as mentioned in the last point. Retainer specific cleaners or denture cleaners are ideal, however dish soap will also do the trick. Just be certain to brush the retainer with the cleaner using a separate toothbrush to avoid a soapy taste when you brush your teeth.
Everyone should have a retainer…
Even if you never had Braces!
Let me explain. The reason retainers are important for keeping teeth stable is because the section of jawbone that holds the teeth (the alveolar bones) are different from all other bones of the body. Read the post “Why You Should Wear Retainers; Even If You’ve Never Had Braces” in our blog for more details. Basically, as we age our faces change and teeth can move in response. Have you ever known anyone who always had straight teeth, maybe they never even had braces then one day the lower teeth start to shift and become crooked? Teeth hold bone… retainers hold teeth… so, if you are happy with where your teeth are currently but you do not have a retainer we recommend you call our office for a consult to discuss retainer options. Likely you will only need a simple retainer to be worn at night to ensure your teeth don’t move!