RETAINERS

A retainer is a custom-made, removable orthodontic appliance that helps maintain the position of your teeth following orthodontic treatment. Your teeth can shift out of position over time due to natural changes in your body or habits like fingernail biting and pen chewing that can cause pressure on certain parts of your mouth. It is essential to wear a retainer to prevent this shifting so that you don’t experience any adverse effects on your smile or bite. /p>

Usually, our orthodontist recommends you wear your retainer at night to maintain your results and prevent future complications. However, some patients may also need to wear their retainer during the day. This is usually only necessary for patients with a high risk of relapse. If you aren’t sure how long you need to wear your retainer each day, it is best to consult our orthodontist at Lawless Orthodontics.

Who Needs a Retainer? 

We recommend using a retainer for every patient undergoing orthodontic treatment because the teeth may return to their original positions over time. Some patients may have to wear a retainer for years after treatment to ensure their teeth do not move out of place again.

Patients who have never undergone orthodontic treatment may also need to wear a retainer at night to keep their smiles healthy. This is because our jaw naturally moves forward as we age. Wearing a retainer can prevent this natural growth from contributing to future misalignment and other orthodontic issues.

The size and type of retainer a patient needs will depend on their smile's unique needs and goals. At Lawless Orthodontics, our dentist can help you determine if and what type of retainer you need to ensure your smile stays straight and healthy.

The Benefits of Retainers

Once your orthodontic appliance has been removed, you’ll be fitted for a retainer. This custom-fit device is designed to hold your teeth in their new positions while the muscles in your face and jaw get used to the changes that have been made. As time passes, your jawbone will naturally stay in this new position. However, this can take months or even years to complete, so it’s necessary to have a retainer.

Wearing a retainer will keep your teeth from shifting out of place. You should continue wearing your retainer even once you’ve stopped seeing our orthodontist for checkups. Your teeth can still shift out of alignment over time if you don’t continue to wear your retainer.

Types of Retainers

Retainers are custom-made and can be removable or fixed.

When it comes to orthodontic treatment, retainers play a crucial role in keeping the teeth aligned. The two types of retainers that are commonly used are clear removable and fixed retainers. Clear removable retainers look similar to clear aligners, which can be produced from a mold of your recently aligned teeth without needing goopy impressions. As long as you wear your retainer and keep up with your molds, you will receive up to four new clear retainers per year, in case they break or get lost.

On the other hand, fixed retainers consist of wires bonded behind the bottom and/or top teeth. They need little maintenance and may last for up to a year or more until the cement begins to fail. However, since these are usually only used for lower front teeth, a clear overlay retainer is also necessary to prevent the shifting of adjacent upper or back teeth caused by unrestrained forces acting on them over time

Retainer Care ;

At Lawless Orthodontics, we strongly advise our patients to keep their retainers in the provided case when not in use. This not only protects the retainer from damage but also ensures that it stays clean and hygienic. Additionally, we provide each patient with a 3D-printed mold of their teeth to make an extra retainer in case of loss or breakage.

On the other hand, fixed retainers stay in your mouth all day long and require minimal maintenance as they are constantly working towards keeping your teeth aligned perfectly. They are also much more comfortable than removable ones due to their small size and inconspicuousness, which means no one will notice you have them on!

To learn why you should wear a retainer, contact Lawless Orthodontics at any of our three convenient locations in Bowling Green, Glasgow, and Russellville, KY.