What Are Retainers?
A retainer is a removable orthodontic appliance used to keep your teeth in proper alignment after orthodontics in Columbus, Ohio. The most common type is the Hawley retainer, which features a plastic base and a thin metal wire that fits around your teeth.
At our dental office, we also offer clear plastic retainers, similar to Invisalign aligners. These are called Essix retainers, named after a well-known brand. Depending on your needs, this type of retainer may be a good option for you.
In rare cases, a fixed retainer may be recommended if there’s concern that you may not consistently wear your retainer.
Why You Need to Wear Retainers
Retainers are used to help your teeth stay in place after orthodontic treatment as part of long-term smile care in cosmetic dentistry in Columbus, Ohio. Orthodontics works by encouraging your bone to reshape around your teeth. However, newly formed bone isn’t as sturdy at first, which makes your teeth more vulnerable to drifting back toward their original positions—especially with the constant forces created by your bite.
Your retainer holds your teeth in place while the bone becomes stronger and your bite adapts to the new positions of your teeth, reducing the risk of shifting.
When you first start wearing a retainer, you may need to wear it all day. Over time, this typically transitions to nightly wear, and eventually to just a few nights per month to maintain your results.
Adapting to Your Retainer
When you first start wearing your retainer, it can feel a little unusual. This can make you not want to wear it. Put your retainer in context to help yourself understand the benefit of wearing it: if you don’t wear your retainer, all your orthodontic work will be wasted.
Talking with your retainer may be difficult at first. Reading aloud is a good way to practice speaking with your retainer in.
Excess saliva flow is normal when wearing a retainer. This should go away after the first few days.
Your retainer should not be uncomfortable to wear, since it’s fitted to your teeth as they currently are. If your retainer is bothering you, please mention it, and we can adjust it.
Although special decorated retainers are often advertised for children, adults might benefit from this as well, since it helps you identify with your retainer and makes it more likely you will see your retainer as part of you and less like a foreign object in your mouth.
Caring for Your Retainer
Caring for a retainer is similar to caring for a denture. Usually, you will take your retainer out for eating. When your retainer is out of your mouth, put it in water to help it retain its shape and size. Don’t put your retainer in hot water or near a heat source.
Clean your retainer when you brush your teeth. Clean your retainer by removing it and brushing it with a soft-bristled toothbrush or denture brush, then soak it in a cleaning solution like the one used for dentures. Brush and floss your teeth normally while your retainer is out.
Retainers can be broken if mishandled, so don’t try to reshape or refit your retainer.
The main danger with retainers is forgetting them and leaving them behind. Identifying with your retainer through a characteristic design can help, but the most important way to keep your retainer from getting lost is to establish a good routine for what you do with your retainer whenever you take it out. This good habit will help keep you from losing your retainer.
Get a Replacement Retainer in Columbus, OH
Protect the smile you worked hard to achieve. Whether you’ve completed treatment with braces or Invisalign, wearing your retainer as directed is key to lasting results. If you need a new retainer, an adjustment, or want to explore orthodontic care in Columbus, OH, we’re here to help. Call (614) 848-5001 to schedule your visit with Firouzian Dentistry today.
