Know What Type of Retainer is Best for You!

Regardless of the orthodontic treatment, you decide to use, wearing a retainer is inevitable. Once you complete your treatment, it is only natural for you not to desire to wear any other appliance. However, our dentist in Fort Valley recommends that you wear a retainer to ensure that your teeth remain straight.

If you opt to ignore getting retainers in Fort Valley, the smile you worked so hard to possess will not stay straight. Your teeth will eventually revert to their former positions. You can choose to look at wearing retainers after braces to maintain your new smile.

Now, you need to pick the retainer that will keep your teeth perfectly aligned. Just like braces, there are different retainers that you can choose from to suit your needs.

So, keep on reading to get tips on how you can select the right retainer.

A Thing or Two About Selecting a Retainer

When you hear the word “retainer,” what comes to mind? You might think it could be a bulky metallic oral appliance that might impair your speech, cause discomfort, and be ugly.

Now, retainers in Fort Valley are designed to be comfortable and less conspicuous. A person standing close to you could be wearing a retainer, and you might not even have a clue.

Our dentist will be there every step of the way to ensure that you know the effectiveness of each option. But before you have a conversation with our dentist, ask yourself the following questions:

• How visible do you want the retainer to be?
• How much time can you create to use and care for your retainer?
• Do you want a permanent or removable retainer?

Remember that you can use a retainer for a few years or indefinitely; therefore, you must pick what you prefer.

Common Types of Retainers

Modern dentistry has made available a plethora of options that range from invisible to wire. The myriad of options suits the appearance preferences, style, and comfort. Irrespective of the brand, retainers fall into three categories:

• Permanent Retainers

You might have come across these retainers by other names such as fixed retainers, bonded wire retainers, or lingual wire retainers. Permanent retainers are referred to as such because our dentist is the only person who can remove them.

Our dentist bonds the retainer to the back of your teeth and can be placed on the upper four front teeth or lower front six teeth, depending on what’s necessary. Once they are in place, they will hold the teeth firmly, preventing them from reverting to their former positions.

• Clear Retainers

These retainers are almost invisible and have become popular as the years progress because of the evolution of dental technology. These retainers are crafted using clear plastic and are custom-fitted to your mouth. If you need a discrete option, clear retainers will work best in your situation.

• Hawley Retainers

These are the most common retainers. You will often hear most people refer to them as wire retainers. For decades, these retainers have been the go-to option and are a very reliable option.

They are made using molded acrylic arch and wire, custom-fitted to your mouth. Hawley retainers can also be adjusted to be more effective. Wire retainers are also removable.

What’s Best for You?

Some of the factors that you must consider as you are choosing the best retainer for you is:

• Effectiveness

The Hawley, permanent, and clear retainers are effective if used correctly. However, their efficacy is dependent on your habits. You need to know when to use, clean, and remove your retainer.

• Appearance

If dental aesthetics mean a lot to you, you might need to go for clean or permanent retainers. The clear retainers can be worn anytime since they are virtually invisible. The same goes for permanent retainers since they are bonded to the back of your teeth.

• Convenience

You need to pick an option that will suit your lifestyle. If you don’t, the retainer you pick might not give you the desired results.

• Durability

Permanent and Hawley retainers are best known for their durability. Clear retainers cannot compare to their counterparts.

• Maintenance

Poor retainer maintenance can lead to other issues such as gum disease and tooth decay. Caring for your retainers should be a regular part of your daily routine.

Contact our dentist at Whitaker Family Dentistry if you wish to learn more.