What are Dental Retainers?
Dental retainers are devices, custom-made for specific jaws that are worn in order to maintain the shape of the teeth after an orthodontic treatment is done to align misaligned teeth. It is mandatory to wear these after orthodontic treatment in order to keep the effects of the treatment permanent.
The two basic kinds of dental retainers are removable and permanent. Removable retainers are those that can be worn and removed on a regular basis. These retainers can either be wire retainers or clear retainers. On the other hand, fixed retainers are made of thin wire that bonds with the inner side of the teeth, both on the upper and lower jaw.
Why Does one Need to Wear Retainers?
Retainers are used primarily in order to maintain the alignment of teeth after a treatment like braces. Retainers are also used to allow teeth to adopt their new arrangement after any other major orthodontic treatment. In other cases, retainers may be used as a treatment itself. For instance, an orthodontist may recommend a child to use retainers to align a single misaligned tooth. To get this done, the child may have to keep wearing the retainers for several years. Children may not need braces because their gums are still not fully shaped and retainers should be sufficiently effective in aligning the teeth.
Common Types of Retainers
Bonded Retainers
Bonded retainers are permanent retainers that are attached to the teeth. Once the duration of braces is complete, the orthodontist may fix retainers in place. These retainers are used typically when the patient needs to wear the retainer at all times.
Clear Plastic Retainers
Clear plastic retainers are removable retainers that are designed to mold and fit the shape of the teeth. For this reason, these are also referred to as molded retainers. These have become a very popular choice in current times as the need to maintain aesthetics has increased. Unlike Invisalign, these are not meant to align teeth, only to maintain their position after alignment.
Hawley Retainer
These retainers are also of the removable kind. Also called wire retainers, these can be taken out for meals and worn again with ease. Although removable, orthodontists strictly instruct patients to wear these frequently in order to see a positive effect.
How Often Should a Removable Retainer Be Worn?
Permanent or fixed retainers will certainly be worn throughout the day for an extended period of time. Removable retainers, including bonded retainers or clear plastic retainers, should be worn according to the instructions of the orthodontist. Most recommend full-time wear except for cleaning and meal times. Full-time wear is particularly important in the 4 to 6 months immediately after braces are removed.
Dental retainers can either be purchased from the local dentist or can be bought online from various service providers like SportingSmiles. To purchase dental retainers online you must first purchase an impression kit to get an impression of your teeth. Send your impression to the service provider in a pre-paid box and receive your high-quality, custom-made retainers in no time. Alternatively, you can also visit a dentist who offers invisalign, fast braces, and dental implants in New York personally.
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