Importance of wearing retainers in orthodontic aftercare

Orthodontic retainers – a basic introduction

Retainers are a crucial appliance used in almost every orthodontic procedure. Once the treatment completes and the braces are removed from the teeth you have to wear retainers to prevent the teeth from sinking back into their initial positions. Retainers can be broadly divided into two sections namely fixed and removable ones. Your treatment provider, who could be a dentist or an orthodontist, will invariably discuss your retainer options once your orthodontic treatment is about to end. The expert also provides you with the necessary aftercare advice.

About removable retainers

This range of retainers is custom fitted for a patient’s teeth and is usually made from transparent and flexible moulds of plastic. You have to wear removable retainers full time throughout both the day and the night. However this restriction is only for the first few months following your treatment. Then you gradually wear the retainers only during the night. As the year passes by your wear time comes down further and you wear the appliance only once or twice a week and that too only in the night.

In order to avoid relapse or sinking back of the teeth into their initial position you have to follow the instructions of your treatment provider full heartedly. In other words you should follow the guidance of your dentist or orthodontist on when and how long you should wear the retainers.

About fixed retainers

The other name of fixed retainers is bonded retainers. This variety of retainers is basically a thin wire made of stainless steel. It remains attached with the back of your teeth and thus stays hidden from the line of view. A renowned dentist who delivers perfect smile in Wandsworth over the years says the range of retainers is steadily rising in popularity. This is a long term and more reliable solution compared to the other option. Removable retainers are prone to get lost easily. You may even forget to wear them back in time. There is no such risk with bonded retainers; it remains attached to your teeth without any problem or complication.

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When you are on fixed retainers, you have to be on this appliance for a minimum of two years. Depending on the overall condition you may have to wear the retainers permanently during the period.

Approximate cost of retainers

Usually there is no separate cost for orthodontic retainers as the cost is already built into the overall cost of your orthodontic treatment. All these elements are factored in your unique treatment plan and the total cost of the treatment is computed based on these facts.

How do you get your retainer?

You do not need to go anywhere to get your chosen retainers. It is your treatment provider’s responsibility to give you your retainer at the right nick of time at the end of your treatment. If in case your retainers gets broken or lost then a replacement is necessary and that would fetch a cost. Before signing up for the treatment you should better sort out all these issues with your chosen dental surgery.

Tried and tested tips to care for your retainers

Care for fixed retainers

• Cleaning fixed retainers is an uphill task compared to that of the removable ones made from flexible plastic. Even reaching out to the teeth surface beneath the wire proves difficult. Thankfully your treatment provider will equip you with the necessary tips and guidance on properly cleaning the range of retainers. The expert will also give you the necessary instructions on effective brushing and flossing of the teeth. A dentist having years of experience in providing the service of tooth filling in Wandsworth points out that using a floss threader usually proves effective reaching beneath the retainers and clean both the surfaces of the teeth and the appliance.
• Sticky and crunchy foods may damage and even break your retainers. So, it is a good advice to avoid such foods as much as possible. At least you should limit consumption of such food items to cut down the risk of damage or breakage of retainers.
• It is important to get in touch with your dentist immediately if you come across any damage to the wire.

Care for removable retainers

• When you are on removable retainers you should remove the appliance every time before eating or drinking anything other than plain water.
• How do you remove these retainers? It is quite easy but you must be little cautious so as there is no damage to the appliance. Apply gentle pressure to the back of your teeth on both sides. It is important to note that if you try removing the retainer only from a single side there are chances of developing cracks.
• Always remove your retainers before taking part in any contact sports. It is also important to take off the appliance while swimming. While participating in contact sports you must slip on a mouth guard to protect your teeth and the jaws from injury.
• As a part of braces aftercare you have to clean your retainers properly at routine intervals. Just brush it gently using a toothbrush with soft bristles along with any liquid soap and water. Use cold or warm water whichever suits you better but never use toothpaste to clean these appliances. When you use toothpaste over a period of time for cleaning the appliance wears a dull or mat appearance. Alternatively you can also make use of commercial cleansing products like Retainer Brite tablets.
• If you ever come across any damage on the retainers just report the matter immediately to your treatment provider.

Importance of wearing a retainer

Once your orthodontic treatment comes to an end it is crucial for you to wear retainers on the teeth. Retainers hold your teeth in their new and improved position. In other words the range of appliances helps keeping your smile straight once the braces are finally removed from the teeth. if you ignore wearing retainers according to the instructions of your dentist or orthodontist your teeth are more likely to drift back into their initial position before the treatment. In that case you will need to wear braces a second time.

This is why wearing Permanent Retainers is a crucial part of every Orthodontic Aftercare explain dentists working at the renowned 1A Orthodontics in London.