Q: How important is my retainer?
“Most people are probably familiar with the term retainers. As the name suggests, retainers are orthodontic devices designed to keep teeth in place—retain them—after orthodontic treatment. In most cases, they do not “move” teeth. Instead, they hold them in place.
“The time immediately after treatment is the most critical. Teeth always want to move back to their original positions. All the gum fibers and bone that helped move your teeth take time to stabilize, and that time is an average of six months. However, there is always a risk of teeth shifting, so retainers are a lifetime commitment.
“Patients typically receive retainers for the upper and lower arches because most have undergone comprehensive treatment.
“The time immediately after treatment is the most critical. Teeth always want to move back to their original positions.”
“There are several types of retainers. An Essix retainer looks like a clear tray, similar to Invisalign. Patients favor these due to their comfort and invisibility. The Hawley retainer uses a familiar acrylic and wire design. It is often preferred with initial deep bites or cross bites.
“My practice, Artful Orthodontics is completely digital. This allows for a patient’s records to be stored long-term and easily used to replace old or lost retainers. In fact, many of our patients join our “retainer subscription program” to reduce replacements costs and save time, having their retainers shipped directly to them to avoid an office visit.”
“At the end of the day, the best retainer is one patients will actually wear!”
