Many people ask us questions about retainers. Heck, many of our patients that have gone through treatment still do not seem to remember exactly why we recommended a retainer in the first place or how to properly care for it.
Simply put, the retainer portion of orthodontic treatment is one of the most important steps in orthodontics. Children, teens, and even adults work so hard caring for their braces and waiting for the wonderful results they provide it would seem patients would do anything to maintain their beautiful, hard-earned smile. Use of a retainer to keep teeth looking good is the absolute key to maintenance of a straight set of teeth and healthy bite. Teeth have a tendency to want to return to their original positions due to the elastic fibers we cannot see inside our gums and retainers provide the insurance that this does not happen.
What are retainers? A retainer is usually a removable appliance made out of acrylic and metal or clear plastic, or sometimes a fixed retainer made of a gold wire attached to the back of the teeth that is custom designed for each and every patient. Dr. AJ Ker says, “A retainer is as individual as your fingerprint, custom made to fit just right but requiring monitoring and the occasional adjustment.” Not only are they almost always worn after braces are taken off, but they can also be used for other dental issues, such as closing a gap between teeth or adjusting slightly irregular teeth.
Why do we need them? The most obvious reason is to help keep the teeth from shifting again. This may occur because just as kids bodies are growing, their mouths are changing to. The retainer helps to control the shifting and keep your beautiful smile in place! Our jaws continue to grow, our bite forces are very strong, and we sleep on our faces and all of these repeated pressures could disturb what was once a perfect smile. “Often, there is a choice of the type of retainer that is chosen for you or your child and our orthodontists will help guide you to make the best individual choice for you,” says Dr. AJ.
How do we care for them? Of course, your orthodontist will go over how to care for your retainer. There are different kinds of retainers, therefore, requiring different ways of cleaning. However, they all need to be cleaned as they are kept in the mouth where bacteria can grow and plaque minerals can accumulate. Just like your teeth that come in contact with food and drinks, so does your retainer. It is as important to clean your retainer and it is to clean your teeth. It is important not to bend the retainer or lose it. However, just like the tires on your car, a retainer may eventually wear out and require replacement. We take care to design durable, value-oriented retainers that should last for many years but improper care, storage, or a variety of other factors could require a retainer to eventually be re-made or replaced.
If you have any other specific questions about retainers, please let us know. We will be happy to assist you.
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan, the offices of Drs. Delaney, Plunkett, Ralstrom, Makowski, Thanasas, Ker, and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan have specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. The pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults, including being an Invisalign preferred provider. The ability to treat all special needs patients reaches beyond our facility, which has treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy. Valued hospital affiliations allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John’s Hospital Macomb when needed. Our specialists are also on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
