Retainers

Why Retainers Matter

Teeth do not simply stay where orthodontic treatment leaves them. The fibers and bone around each tooth remodel slowly after the braces or aligners come off, and without something holding the result, teeth drift back toward their old positions — often within months. A retainer is what makes orthodontic treatment permanent.

Types of Retainer

A fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth. It works continuously without you having to remember it, and needs careful flossing around it.

A removable retainer — a clear thermoplastic tray or a traditional wire-and-acrylic Hawley — is taken out to eat and clean. It is usually worn full-time at first and then nights only, long-term.

Caring for a Retainer

Rinse a removable retainer after wearing it and clean it with cool water and a soft brush; hot water distorts the plastic. Keep it in its case rather than a napkin, which is how most retainers are thrown away. If a retainer cracks, warps or suddenly feels tight, have it checked — a tight retainer means teeth have already started to move.