Everyone who has their teeth aligned, and arguably even people who haven't but have naturally straight teeth, should wear retainers to keep their teeth straight. Our teeth will want to move our entire lives, whether we've had braces or not. So the best advice is to wear your retainers all the time except for when you're eating or brushing/flossing for the first three months after aligning your teeth, and then after that, at night time for lifetime!
It depends on both your unique initial orthodontic issues as well as your personal preferences and habits. About 90% of patients choose clear plastic retainers. When it comes to teenagers in particular, the main concern is that the retainer is worn. Studies have shown compliance rates wearing the traditional retainers (often called Hawley retainers) is lower, in part because the traditional retainer is more visible with a wire in front and can be more difficult to speak with.
Teenagers in general tend to overestimate their resolve to wear retainers long-term, but personality differences between individuals are more important than any general group-based rule--some of our teenagers are very responsible.
Some offices simply decide which type of retainers their patients will receive, but we like to provide ours with the pros
and cons of each so they can pick which type works best for them.
Rule 1: In the case or in your face! They only work if they're worn.
Rule 2: Must be worn 24/7 for the first 3 months. After that, they only need to be worn while sleeping.
Rule 3: Need to be worn for as long as you want to keep your teeth straight -- the rest of your life!
• While some patients can get away with wearing their retainers just occasionally, this is risky because once the habit is lost, a few times a week turns into a few times a month, and then zero times a month. We see patients all the time that are back in orthodontic treatment because they lost, broke, and simply forgot to wear their retainers after treatment. It's much easier, faster, cheaper, and more comfortable to keep teeth straight than to fix them if they move again! Establish a habit!
• If you decide not to wear them every night, just be sure they ALWAYS still fit. If when you put your retainers in, they are really tight, that's a signal to you that you need to wear them more often.
• Some patients seem to believe that THEIR teeth won't move. They WILL move, given enough time. Just play it safe.
1) Lasts a long time (if not broken or lost!).
2) Good for letting teeth "settle in" to a good position.
3) Strongly recommended if you've had an expander.
appliance (to keep arch from narrowing).
4) Most orthodontists recommend this for the upper arch.
5) After 3 months, you only need to wear it while you sleep!
1) Has a wire, therefore some patients don't like the appearance, But you've already had braces, what's 3 more months of a wire?
2) Must be worn for 3 months all the time
3) Must be worn to do its job
4) Can be lost or broken5)Must be sent to a lab to make (takes 3-4 weeks)
1) Good for people worried about having a wire in front.
2) After 3 months, you only need to wear it while sleeping.
3) Can use as bleaching trays.
4) Made in house for fast delivery.
1) Usually last 1-2 years (less if you grind your teeth).
2) Must be worn for 3 months all the time.
3) Must be worn to do its job.
4) Can be lost or broken.
Some orthodontists love fixed retainers. Some greatly dislike them. The same feelings exist amongst patients as well. Dr. Cardall doesn't love them, but can see the benefit of a lower glued-in retainer in a patient who struggles to remember to wear a removable retainer.
All fixed retainers are wires that are glued to the tongue side of your front teeth. They are much more common on the lower teeth than upper teeth.
Rule 1: Must avoid very hard or sticky foods that can break them (similar to eating with braces)
Rule 2: Must brush and clean around them well, and have them checked by your dentist every visit
• Some people call these “permanent” retainers and mistakenly believe they should last forever.
• However, just like a car needs repairs, fixed retainers can break or wear out and need replacing.
• Upper retainers in particular WILL break, it's just a matter of time.
1) If its not broken, it's working.
2) No remembering to wear it.
3) Lets teeth "settle in" to position.
4) Best for adults that started treatment with very rotated lower front teeth.
5) Best for those that are very particular about their alignment.
1) Must use a floss threader to floss -- hardest to clean!
2) Breaks more often than retainer that is only glued to lower canines.
3) Must fix ASAP if breaks.
4) Very hard to fix, often break again.
5) Must avoid very hard & sticky foods.
6) Hard for dental hygienists to clean.
1) If its not broken, it's working.
2) No remembering to wear it.
3) Lets teeth "settle in" to position.
4) Good for patients that started without severely crowded or rotated lower front teeth.
5) Does not need a threader to floss (unlike when fixed to all 6 teeth).
6) Breaks less than retainer fixed to all 6 lower front teeth.
7) Much easier to repair than retainer fixed to all 6 teeth
1) Front four front teeth can move slightly--not good for those who are very particular.
2) Must fix ASAP if it breaks.
3) Must avoid very hard & sticky foods.
1) If it's not broken, it's working.
2) No remembering to wear it.
3) For people who started with an upper gap.
4) For those who simply won't or cannot remember to wear an upper retainer
1) NOT recommended in most cases because.
2) Requires floss threader.
3) Must fix ASAP if breaks.
4) Hard to fix.
5) Must avoid very hard & sticky foods
When your removable retainers get worn down by teeth grinding, another solution to protect teeth while keeping them straight (and not destroying your retainers constantly and getting new ones all the time) is to get a nightguard. A nightguard is commonly worn on the top or bottom arch, and a normal retainer is worn on the other arch.
