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Once you have successfully completed your teeth straightening treatment, your dentist will prescribe clear retainers after braces or aligners, to you. These must be worn day and night for six months to a year depending on the severity of your case. Clear retainers for teeth are often confused with their lookalikes–aligners, but they both serve different purposes in your orthodontic journey.
Clear Retainers to Straighten Teeth
Clear retainers are dental trays, crafted from BPA-free plastic. These are custom-made as per your dental impressions and fit snugly on your teeth to retain them in their newly acquired position. Removable retainers are made and look exactly like clear aligners, however both serve different purposes.
Aligners are sets of progressive trays, each slightly different from the last one. Each tray is worn for a few days, before proceeding to the next one. The last aligner tray is the closest match to your retainers, as they both are made according to the final position of your aligned teeth. Here’s a small table summarising their differences.
| Features | Clear Aligners | Clear Retainers |
|---|---|---|
| Removable |  |
|
| Custom made | |
|
| Series of sets | Numbered series | Same trays |
| Wear period | Each set for days | For months |
| Straighten teeth | |
 |
| Hold teeth position | |
|
| At home delivery | |
|
| Discreet/Clear | |
|
| BPA free plastic | |
|
Why Do We Need Retainers?
Teeth have a natural tendency to shift back to their original place once they are off the straightening treatments. While undergoing the straightening process there is a constant pressure on the teeth to push them towards alignment. There are three main reasons that make retainers mandatory at the end of your teeth straightening treatment:
Outside Forces
Several factors contribute to the force exerted on our teeth in our daily routines. Actions such as chewing, sleeping position, sitting postures, and teeth-grinding habits exert pressure on your teeth which might shift them post-alignment. Retainers mitigate the effect of these forces on your newly positioned teeth until your jaw structure adjusts to its position and they are anchored firmly.
To Stabilize
Teeth are anchored in the jaws firmly, this is what enables us to bite and chew. When teeth are shifted into new positions, the jaw bones need time to heal and develop ligaments around these structures. Retainers will support this process by ensuring teeth stay where you want them to, while the jaw adjusts around their new positions.
Natural Shifting
Our body has a natural tendency to stay in the form it is in, resisting any change, and our teeth are no exception to this. This is why teeth have a natural tendency to shift back to their original place even after they have been completely aligned. Retainers hold teeth in their newly acquired position until our body gets accustomed to their new position.
Patients who forego their retainer period or get off them earlier than prescribed, often suffer from orthodontic relapse where their teeth move out of alignment. Simple negligence in wearing retainers results in the reversal of your dental treatment and the time and money invested in them.
Other Types of Clear Retainers
Clear retainers are the newest addition owing to technological advancements in the orthodontic industry. There are however two traditional options that may be prescribed by your dentist.
Hawleys
These are custom-made retainers and comprise an acrylic or plastic plate connected with a thin metal wire that holds teeth in their aligned position.
Limitations
They feature a metal wire at the front of the teeth which shows when you smile or talk. They are not a discreet option for those unwilling to compromise on their aesthetics. Their reported cost averages around $250 to $300, making them a pricier option.
Bonded Retainers
They are installed by your dentist and comprise a metal wire permanently glued to the back of the teeth, mostly in the lower arch. Due to their placement, they are very discreet.
Limitations
They can’t be installed on the upper arch, because the pressure from the bite tends to break the wire. They don’t enable easy flossing and may require maneuvering while brushing teeth to clean effectively around the wire.
How are At Home Custom Retainers Made?
You can either buy custom retainers at your dentist's or order them online from a reputed at-home retainer provider. If you choose to buy them at home, here are the steps involved:
Order
Place an order for clear retainers online. You can choose single or multiple retainers and receive your impression kit at home.
Impressions
Once you receive your kit, take your dental impressions according to the provided instructions and mail them back to your provider.
Delivery
Your custom retainers will be crafted on your dental mold and sent to your address within a few days. Wear them throughout the day and night for at least six months initially and then gradually decrease the wear time as prescribed by your doctor.
Why Are Clear Retainers Superior?
While there are two other types of retainers available for straight teeth, custom clear retainers have become the most popular option, and their popularity continues to grow. Here's why they are considered the best clear retainers for maintaining your dental alignment:
Custom
Clear retainers are made precisely to match the shape of your teeth. They also have more surface area coverage as compared to other options. This enables them to effectively hold your teeth in their new position.
Transparent
They are crafted from BPA-free transparent material, making them virtually transparent when worn. This allows users to wear their retainers without drawing attention to their teeth and go about their routines without compromising their aesthetics.
Removable
Clear retainers can be removed easily and snapped back on as required. This makes maintenance of oral hygiene easy and does not hinder your eating habits.
Replaceable
Getting your retainers replaced is easy, you simply use the digital file of your dental impressions to get a fresh pair made and delivered to your address whenever required.
Affordable
Clear retainers come at half the price of bonded retainers, and the price further drops if you buy 2 or more sets. Buying in bulk makes them even more pocket-friendly.
Retainers For Braces
You can opt for their invisible retainers even if your teeth have been straightened by traditional or ceramic braces. Retainers work equally well to hold your teeth from moving, regardless of your choice of teeth straightening treatment,
How To Care For Your Retainers?
To get the best out of your retainers it is recommended to look after them right. Here’s what we suggest:
Store Well
- Keep them in their case when not in use to save from contamination and shape distortion
- Store them away from extreme temperatures that can potentially warp the plastic
Clean Regularly
- Clean them daily with plain tap water and a soft toothbrush if needed.
- Every three days soak them in a denture cleaner or a retainer cleaner to ensure they are disinfected, stain-free, and thoroughly cleaned.
Maintenance
- Don’t eat or drink anything other than water while wearing your retainers. This will help preserve their precise shape and avoid staining.
- Wear them throughout the day and night as prescribed. Leaving out on your prescribed wear time for as low as two days can shift your teeth.
Retainers play a crucial role in keeping your teeth from shifting out of alignment. They must be worn as prescribed, initially throughout the day and night. Cleaning your retainers and storing them correctly helps maintain their precise shape for a long time.
FAQs
1. Are retainers really necessary?
Retainers are essential to hold your teeth in their newly acquired position., If you don’t use them, your teeth will be at risk of going out of their alignment.
2. Do we wear retainers forever?
No, retainers should be worn throughout the day and night for at least six months to a year, and then gradually the wear time is decreased as prescribed by your doctor.
3. Can you chew gum with retainers?
It is recommended to take off your retainers before you chew gum. Pressure from chewing can affect their precise shape.
4. Can clear retainers be adjusted?
Clear retainers are made precise according to the shape of teeth and do not require adjustments like traditional wire retainers such as Hawley’s retainers.
5. Can you vape with clear retainers?
Yes you may vape with retainers on but it is recommended to take your retainers off before vaping whenever possible to avoid staining.
