DENTAL RETAINER: I Finished My Orthodontics! Now What?

Orthodontic Retainers: What are retainers?

Orthodontic retainers are appliances that we place when we’ve finished an orthodontic treatment. There are dental retainers of various types: fixed retainers or removable retainers, which we’ll explain now.

What are dental retainers for?

Dental retainers are used so that when we’ve finished the orthodontic treatment, whether it’s orthodontics with braces or invisible orthodontics (Spark invisible orthodontics or Invisalign invisible orthodontics), our teeth don’t move, as they’ve been left perfectly aligned.

How many types of retainer are there?

There are various types of dental retainer, but we can divide them into two groups:

• Fixed: a dental retainer that’s stuck to the back of the most anterior teeth (the incisors). It can be placed on the upper and lower part. Generally a metal retainer is placed, but if the patient has some kind of allergy to metal or it doesn’t fit, we can also put a white fibreglass retainer.
• Removable: these are the retainers we’ll use to sleep because they’re take-out-and-put-back. In most cases we’ll put clear plastic retainers similar to those used by patients undergoing treatment with aligners. However, for patients who have had a particular bite it’s necessary to put palatal retainers, which are more rigid. For example: to keep the width of the palate.

How long should dental retainers be used for?

We’ll have to use the dental retainers when we finish the orthodontics, as we advise you at the clinic. Generally, we explain to patients that they need to use them more insistently in the first year after finishing the orthodontic treatment, going from wearing them 24 hours a day to night-time use only.

What maintenance do the retainers require?

Fixed retainers will be stuck to our teeth so that we won’t have to do anything special at home. The only advisable thing: keep proper hygiene in that area where it will be harder for us to brush and where we’ll pass a special floss. We advise our patients to come for an annual cleaning and on that day take the opportunity to check the fixed retainer to make sure it’s still stuck to all the teeth.

Removable retainers should be cleaned when we take them out with water and soap with the help of a stiff-bristled brush; and once a week we can also disinfect them with specific products to help keep them in good condition.

In principle, we’ll only change them if they break or deteriorate over the years.

Do orthodontic retainers have to be cleaned?

Orthodontic retainers, as we’ve explained, should be cleaned every day with water and soap with the help of a stiff-bristled brush, leaving it in its case, aired out, so that it dries properly and we can use it clean the following night.

At the pharmacy we can also find disinfectant products that will help us to clean them thoroughly so that they stay in good condition for longer and we can use them.

Do the retainers have to be changed or do they last forever?

Both fixed retainers and take-out-and-put-back retainers usually last for years. We shouldn’t change the dental retainers unless they deteriorate or break. When we go to our annual check-up we should take them so that our dentist can advise us on whether they fit well or whether it’s necessary to change them.

Which is the best dental retainer?

When we talk about retainers we can’t say that there’s one dental retainer that’s the best; the important thing is that our dentist advises us on the best dental retainer for us depending on the malocclusion we’ve had and the orthodontic treatment we’ve received.

Fixed retainers will be more comfortable because they’re stuck to our teeth; however, it will be harder for us to clean the teeth where they’re stuck. The removable retainers we’ll use at night are very comfortable but we have to be responsible and remember to put them in every night. The Invisalign retainers or the Vivera retainers are also clear, take-out-and-put-back removable retainers that we’ll use at night.

Therefore, the best dental retainer will be the one our dentist advises us on.

At Clínica Dental Doctores Tarazona we’ll be delighted to advise you on which dental retainer is the most suitable after your orthodontic treatment.

Don’t hesitate to call us to book your appointment and our orthodontics specialist will advise you if you have any kind of doubt!