Why do you need retainers after braces? What kind of retainers is ideal for you? If you get an orthodontic appliance, especially braces, your dentist may recommend you to wear retainers forever after the treatment. This article will discuss everything about retainers and their importance. For more dental treatment choices, go to this website.
All About Retainers
Retainers are pieces of metal or plastic that are specially designed for every individual. There are no two very similar retainers. Your dentist will make a retainer that matches your mouth’s form and the alignment of your teeth.
Generally, there are two types of retainers that you can get after your dentist removes your braces.
Removable Retainer
This retainer is a mix of a wire that goes across the front of the top and bottom teeth. The removable retainer has an acrylic material where the wire is attached to it and hooks that you can put around the teeth to support it. The wires in this orthodontic treatment can be adjusted to proceed with the minor movement of the teeth if it is necessary.
The removable retainer has two kinds. Let us identify the two by understanding their pros and cons.
Removable Hawley Wire Retainers
The advantages of this orthodontic appliance are:
- Able to be tightened or repaired
- Last a long time
- Permit the bite to settle into a more agreeable situation over time
- Custom made designed with several colors, logos, and so forth
The disadvantages of this orthodontic appliance are:
- Permit slight development of the teeth
- Costlier to replace
- Do not cover the biting surface of the teeth. Hence, do not protect against grinding.
- More visible as how you can see the metal wire
- Can be lost or broken
- Some patients are not comfortable wearing the bulky inclusion of the palate.
Removable Clear Plastic Retainers
The benefits of this type of orthodontic treatment are:
- Almost invisible
- Secures the teeth against wear from grinding
- Support the teeth in the particular situation there were moved to
- More affordable to replace than other retainer choices
- If slight development happens, wearing this type of retainers after braces can help move the teeth back into the correct condition.
The disadvantages of removable clear plastic retainers are:
- Easy to lose since they are so clear
- Do not last as long as the other retainers
Fixed Retainer
This orthodontic treatment comprises of a thin wire that your dentist will bond behind the front or lower teeth, or both. Since this wire extends across multiple teeth, brushing and flossing will be parallel to dental braces care.
Fixed retainers have the great result as the fortified wire can support the newly straight teeth in the ideal arrangement over a significant time. Contact Casey Dentists in Townsville today if you have more questions about the best retainers after braces.
The Importance of Retainers After Braces
Orthodontic treatment does not end once your braces have been removed. After removing the braces, you need to wear a retainer to ensure the teeth remain in the new alignment.
Here are the reasons how retainers after braces can benefit you.
Stabilize The Bite
Once your dentist removed your braces, the bone and delicate tissues will require time to adjust to the changes made in the tooth placement. The retainers help settle teeth in a new alignment and guarantee that the moving or relapse of teeth is negligible.
Correct Spacing for Wisdom Teeth
Orthodontic treatment is standard dental appliances among teenagers. As their bodies are still developing, they would need to wear retainers when their wisdom teeth emerge.
By applying the retainers as taught, the teenagers can keep up the space needed in their jaw to allow the wisdom teeth to emerge properly. Consistent use of retainers ensures that the teeth do not move because of a lack of room.
Support Teeth in New Positions
If you had orthodontic braces to fix spaces in the teeth, seriously misaligned teeth or underbite and overbite, it would take an extended effort to settle. Hence, it is essential to hold the teeth set up even after the dentist removed your braces.
Dental retainers will help hold the teeth firmly in their new spaces until the mouth can adjust to the changes.
Avoid Treatment Reversal
Usually, the teeth will move back into their old alignment in the months after the dentist removed your braces.
It is possible to avoid this teeth reversal by wearing dental retainers, and using retainers for a couple of months after braces is a good idea.
Helps with Speech Impediments
If you have trouble saying some words because of the situation of teeth, a retainer can help form the sounds accurately. Retainers can likewise address a speech impairment called tongue thrust, where the tongue discovers its way through the teeth when you say something. You can wear a specially made retainer known as a tongue cage to avoid this condition. It will additionally control the mouth with the proper pronunciation.
If you need to wear a retainer, talk to your dentist to help you pick the correct retainer to ensure the treatment continues as planned.
Essential Tips on Wearing Retainers
- Use your retainer consistently until the dentist instructs otherwise.
- It is essential to remove your retainer when you are going to eat and consistently set it back in its case.
- Using toothbrush water, wash the retainer thoroughly once each day. Brushing retainers eliminate the plaque and wipe out smells. There are applicable orthodontic cleaners that you can use to clean your retainer. However, do not replace brushing for the clear retainers, yet you should not apply it with metal retainers.
- If you have a pet, remember that they love to chew things, including your retainers. That is why it is essential always to put them in its case, especially when they are not in your mouth.
- Initially, you may find it hard to talk—practice talking, reading, or singing aloud to become accustomed to it quickly.
- Be aware that retainers are breakable, so take good care of them. If your retainer gets broken or lost, contact your dentist right away.
- If you any inquiries or worries about your retainer, or you think you need to adjust it, call your dentist. Try not to modify it yourself.
- Retainer substitutions are costly, yet with appropriate care, keep going for quite a long time.
- Always carry your retainer to your dental appointments.
- Take your retainer out when you swim.
- Keep retainers from high temp water, hot vehicle dashboards, pockets, napkins, and the washing machine.
You can book an appointment at Riverlands Dental in Richmond, NSW if you want a straight set of teeth.
