All you need to know about retainers

Congratulations! You have completed your makeO toothsi smile makeOver journey and are flaunting your new smile. You must also be loving the compliments that are coming your way after your teeth straightening process. However, there is a last step that you need to follow diligently after completing your treatment which is to wear your retainers.

After your teeth correction process is completed, you have to wear retainers after braces or clear aligners for at least 6 months to maintain your results. You may have different questions about your retainer teeth routine such as, What is it? Why is it important? Can I skip it? We will answer all those questions here to give you better clarity.

What are Retainers?

What do retainers do? Well, as the name suggests, retainers ‘retain’ the new position of the teeth. A retainer is an orthodontic appliance that keeps the teeth aligned after you complete the treatment with aligners or braces. They apply sufficient pressure on the teeth to keep them from moving back to their original positions.

Their primary job is to stabilize the new positions of the teeth and ensure they stay in their new positions. This is critical to maintaining your new smile for many years to come. If you want your new smile to last, make sure you do not skip the ‘retainer’ part of the treatment. Wear retainers after aligners regularly and as recommended.

Types of Retainers

There are 2 main types of retainers after braces or aligners - removable retainer and permanent retainer. Your orthodontist might help you select the right one. If you are looking for a removable and invisible retainer, go for Vacuum-Formed Retainer (VFR) / Clear Retainers.

Clear retainers or vacuum-formed retainers are made out of durable clear plastic. It is intimately shaped to fit over your teeth hence they offer better comfort than the other aligners do. On the other hand, a permanent retainer is a metal wire that is fixed at the back of the upper and lower front teeth to prevent them from shifting into their original position.

Why are Retainers Recommended?

When you undergo your smile makeOver process through braces or aligners, your jawbone gets softened to allow your teeth to move into the desired position. After your treatment is complete, it is recommended to wear a dental retainer to allow the new bone to get deposited at the base of your teeth. This will ensure that your teeth stay in the desired position with the retainer teeth routine.

Procedure to Fix a Retainer

Whether you use a fixed retainer or an invisible retainer, if your retainer gets damaged or lost, the best way to fix it is to visit your orthodontist immediately. If you have a fixed retainer in the form of a metal wire, then your orthodontist will fix it by replacing the metal wire. On the other hand, you’ll get a new set of invisible retainers through the 3D scan of your result. The retainers cost for the replacement ones can be chargeable.

Advantages of Wearing Retainers

• The most important advantage of wearing retainer braces or trays is that it will keep your teeth in the desired position after your treatment is complete.
• Wearing retainers will also prevent the habit of teeth grinding or clenching which may develop after the treatment.
• It will also safeguard your teeth from tongue thrust that can potentially ruin your newly achieved results.

What happens if You don’t wear retainers after braces?

If you are not wearing your retainers after your braces or aligners, you are at risk of experiencing a relapse. If you don’t wear your retainers regularly as instructed, your teeth can start moving away from the desired position. Not wearing retainers for a month can cause your teeth to drastically move from their achieved position.

Retainers are an important part of your post-treatment procedure which is required to maintain your teeth correction results. Wear your retainers properly for the instructed amount of time by your orthodontist and you will maintain your results for a lifetime. If you have not already started your teeth correction process, then book your 3D scan appointment with makeO tooths now!

FAQs

What does a retainer do for your teeth?

During your teeth correction process through braces or aligners, your jawbone gets softened to enable your teeth to move into their desired position. After your treatment process is complete, retainers will ensure that the new bone gets deposited at the base of your teeth to maintain the achieved results.

How long do you wear retainers?

During the initial 3-6 months after your teeth correction process is complete, you may require wearing your retainers for 20-22 hours each day. Once this phase is complete, you have to wear your retainers for 8-10 hours each for at least a year.

Is it okay to wear a retainer every day?

Yes, you have to wear retainers every day for at least 6 months to maintain the achieved results. Your orthodontist will recommend the required number of hours that you need to wear the retainers for maximum impact.

Can I eat with my retainer on?

If you have fixed retainers that come in the form of a metal wire attached to the back of your teeth, then you can eat with your retainer on. However, invisible retainers which are removable should be removed from your teeth before eating.

Is a retainer more painful than braces?

Retainers are generally more comfortable than braces as they are used to maintain your results. You may feel slight discomfort in the beginning as the retainers bring your teeth together while maintaining the pressure.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed your toothsi smile makeover journey and are totally flaunting your new smile. You must also be loving the compliments that are coming your way. The last thing you would want is for the teeth to move back into their old positions.

That’s why after you are done with your last set of aligners, you have to put on a retainer for your teeth. What is it? Why is it important? Can I skip it? We will answer all those questions here.

What are Retainers and Why are They Important?

What do retainers do? Well, as the name suggests, retainers ‘retain’ the new position of the teeth. A retainer is an orthodontic appliance that keeps the teeth aligned after you complete the treatment with aligners. They apply sufficient pressure on the teeth to keep them from moving back to their original positions.

Their primary job is to stabilize the new positions of the teeth and ensure they stay in their new positions. This is critical to maintaining your new smile for many years to come. If you want your new smile to last, make sure you do not skip the ‘retainer’ part of the treatment. Wear retainers after aligners regularly and as recommended.

What Are the Different Types of Retainers?

There are 2 main types of retainers - removable and permanent. Your orthodontist might help you select the right one. If you are looking for removable retainers, go for Vacuum-Formed Retainer (VFR) / Clear Retainers.

Clear retainers or vacuum-formed retainers are made out of durable clear plastic. It is intimately shaped to fit over your teeth hence they offer better comfort than the other aligners do. These are clear aligners, so they are ‘invisible’ but users must ensure that they don’t grind their teeth while wearing the retainers.

Doesn’t Retainer Do the Same Thing as My Last Aligner?

Well, your last aligner straightened your teeth and worked to bring your teeth to their final positions.

Retainer, on the other hand, must be worn after the final aligner to maintain your new smile for months and years to come.

When Do I Need to Wear My Retainers?

You have to wear the retainer after you complete your smile makeover plan. It is important you wear it regularly. If you are wondering how long should I wear my retainer a day, wear it for 24 hours for the first two weeks. Take them off when you eat. After that, you will need to wear them only when you sleep. Replace your retainer every 6 months to keep them fresh.

Your schedule will be determined by your orthodontist. You need to follow that routine strictly if you wish to see your smile last for a long, long time to come.

Book a scan session today and get that smile makeover you always wanted!