ORTHODONTIC RETAINERS

• How Long Do I Need to Wear My Orthodontic Retainers?
• Bonded vs Removable Retainers
• Essex vs Hawley Retainers

HOW LONG DO I NEED TO WEAR MY ORTHODONTIC RETAINERS?

This is the question that everyone asks, and the answer is, AS LONG AS YOU WANT YOUR TEETH TO BE STRAIGHT. Unfortunately it's probably not what you want to hear, but teeth are very active, and are not embedded in bone, but have ligaments, which make them mobile.

They may not get crooked in one day, but they can move in less than one day and once that retainer doesn't fit, it's too late.

After ORTHODONTIC treatment, it is VERY IMPORTANT to have a ORTHODONTIC RETAINERS made. There are 2 basic types, REMOVABLE, and BONDED.

BONDED RETAINERS: Many ORTHODONTISTS bond a wire to the backs of either the UPPER and or LOWER FRONT TEETH, in order to hold them in place. This can be left on INDEFINITELY. These are often done because the main drawback to REMOVABLE retainers is noncompliance.

REMOVABLE RETAINERS: If you do not wear your retainer, it does not do any good, and YOUR TEETH WILL MOVE BACK TO HOW THEY WERE!! It may seem like a hassle, and while you need to wear your retainer every night initially, after about a year or so, you only really need to wear it 1-2 times each month.

ESSEX RETAINERS:

A picture of an essex retainer is on the left. This is a clear, plastic retainer that is almost unnoticible when wearing.

HAWLEY RETAINERS:

The hawley retainer is on the right, and is made of acrylic and wires. Both retainers will work fine, as long as you wear them!