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Oral Care Video · Retainers

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Retainers

Retainer Wear: What, Why, and How

Your teeth, bones, and gums have a "memory" of their pre-treatment condition. Therefore, retainers are an essential element of orthodontic care, used to stabilize and maintain the position of the teeth at the conclusion of an active phase of treatment. Retainers can be removable or fixed in place. Removable retainers come in two varieties. The lab-made retainer, called a "Hawley retainer," available in many colors and designs, is the traditional acrylic and wire appliance that fits in the palate or under the tongue and uses a (visible) wire to hold the teeth in alignment. Today, more patients prefer the invisible acrylic overlay retainer that we fabricate in the office while you wait. When the braces are first removed, retainers should be worn full time, removed only when eating and brushing. Over time, the retainer can be worn on a diminishing basis, as directed by Dr. Pickard, so that eventually, the patient may only need to wear the retainer while sleeping.

On the lower arch, Dr. Pickard prefers the fixed retainer, which is a small wire, cemented to the tongue side of the teeth, from canine to canine. Since the lower anterior (front) teeth are those most likely to relapse into a pre-treatment position, Dr. Pickard advises his patients to keep that fixed retainer long term. Some patients ask about the fixed retainer for the upper teeth. Unfortunately, a wire cemented to the back of the upper teeth will likely contact the lower teeth, interfering with the bite. For patients who are not faithful flossers and who find it difficult to keep their teeth clean, Dr. Pickard may suggest the removable retainer as a better choice for the lower arch, as well as the upper.

Retainer Wear Dos and Don'ts

  • Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
  • Initially, you may find it difficult to speak clearly. A little practice speaking, reading, or even singing aloud, will help you to adjust quickly.
  • Take your retainers out when eating or drinking and when brushing your teeth.
  • When retainers are not in your mouth, always put them in their cases. Do not wrap them in a napkin! Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants, accidentally tossed out with the trash. And believe it or not, dogs love to chew on retainers!
  • Clean retainers thoroughly once a day to remove plaque and eliminate odors. Use warm but not hot water. Retainers can be soaked in Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners. Hawley retainers should also be brushed, with toothbrush and toothpaste. Avoid brushing clear plastic retainers (acrylic overlays), which are easily scratched, making them less invisible.
  • Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, your pockets, the washing machine, and napkins.
  • Dr. Pickard will recommend a schedule of retention visits. Always bring your retainers to those appointments.
  • If your retainers are uncomfortable, call for an appointment. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
  • Retainers are breakable---treat them with care.
  • If retainers are lost or broken, call us immediately. Teeth can shift quickly when not held by retainers.
  • Retainer replacement is expensive, but with proper care they will last for years!