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DIY retainers for teeth are here to make your lives easy. They are simple, affordable, and getting popular by the day. If you have heard the term and are unsure of how we can make our retainers, this article is for you.
What Are Retainers?
Retainers are dental devices that are introduced at the end of your teeth straightening plan, be it with braces or clear aligners.
Once off the straightening plan, the bone structure and soft tissues in your jaw will need more time to adjust to the newly positioned teeth, and even small forces from chewing can push the teeth out of their place. Retainers help ensure that the teeth stay in their newly acquired position. They will be worn for a certain amount of time, giving your teeth their much-needed grace period to settle into their new places.
There are generally three types of retainers:
1- Fixed Wire:
Also called bonded retainers. These are glued to the back of your lower teeth. They are not recommended for upper arch, because it may cause breakage due to bite pressure. These retainers are permanent; they don’t show on the front and will require a dentist’s visit for application and removal. They are difficult to clean, making it hard to brush and floss around the wire.
2- Removable With Wire:
These are also known as the Hawley retainers. They are custom-made from acrylic and a metal wire that features on the front of the teeth. The metal wire of this retainer will apply gentle pressure to the teeth, holding them in place.
Each Hawley retainer is custom-made based on an impression of the patient’s teeth. For a very long time, they had been the go-to options for patients and dentists alike until the introduction of clear retainers.
3- Transparent Removable:
These are clear retainers that comprise customized clear plastic trays made to fit snugly on the teeth. They can be removed and snapped on without any hassle.
What are DIY retainers?
Clear retainers can be obtained through a dentist or by ordering a do it yourself (DIY) kit at home. These at-home clear retainer kits are also known as DIY retainers because they require you to take your dental impressions that are used as a basis for your custom retainers–a service that otherwise your dentist would’ve performed.
Contrary to what it may seem, DIY retainers don’t require you to make your own retainers, they enable you to take your impressions and get your retainers at home without any visit to the dentist. Here are all the steps involved in getting your custom DIY retainers:
1. Place an order
Many at-home retainer brands have surfaced in the past few years, owing to the ever-increasing popularity and convenience of clear retainers. ALIGNERCO is one such brand that is leading in the provision of at-home custom dental devices such as aligners to straighten teeth, custom night guards, sports mouth guards, and clear retainers.
To get your DIY retainers, simply pick the number of retainers you want, and place your order for at-home delivery.
2. Impressions
You will receive an impression kit that includes sets of unmixed putty– bases and catalysts in different colors, pairs of impression trays in three different sizes, gloves, a cheek retractor, and an impression guide.
The impression-taking part of DIY retainers is the part that you do yourself. Here is how it's done.
a. Make preparations, wash your hands, read the impression guide, watch instruction videos, and get familiar with the components of your impression kit.
b. From the three tray sizes provided, pick the one that fits your mouth comfortably.
c. Take out the putty from both containers and begin to knead it to mix. Ideally, this should take 30 seconds. Use a timer.
d. When mixed evenly, roll it into a ball and press it, using your palms, into a uniform cylinder shape, approximately 4 inches.
e. After shaping, place the rolled putty on a tray and press it gently to spread it evenly in the tray.
f. Align the center of your tray with your nose, and bite into the putty till it reaches your gums. Try to aim for the middle section of the putty and press the tray with your fingers or thumb instead of your teeth.
g. Once the putty in the tray has reached your gum level, sit still for three minutes.
h. Pack your dried impressions in your tray (don't take them out) and send them to your dental appliance provider.
Get Your Custom Retainers
After taking your dental impressions, leave them in their trays, pack them, and send them back to the retainer provider. On receiving your dental impressions, the designated team starts working on curating your custom retainers based on your dental impressions. Once made, your retainer will be shipped to your address.
Are Retainers Effective?
Clear retainers are as effective as the traditional Hawley retainers, as confirmed in a recent study.
Clear retainers are a great choice to hold your teeth in their position as has been confirmed by rising popularity and by a study conducted to evaluate retention procedures.
Reasons to choose DIY retainers
Apart from their effectiveness, there are several reasons to choose clear retainers, such as:
1. Invisibility
Clear retainers are almost unnoticeable when you wear them. If you don’t like a metal wire dominating your smile or don’t have the time to clean food stuck in the wires of your retainers, clear retainers are your go-to option.
2. Cost
While traditional Hawley’s retainers cost around $340 for one, clear retainers, such as those offered by ALIGNERCO can be bought for as low as $125 a pair. Not only this you can save more by avoiding any dental clinic fees.
3. No in-office visits
Making and following through an appointment with a dentist becomes a difficult task for people with busy schedules. With our option of a home retainers plan, you can easily order custom retainers from your house. Impressions can be taken any time of the day without requiring any appointments, no wait, and no hidden costs.
4. Removability
Orthodontic patients can easily remove their clear retainers whenever they want. While previously it was difficult to keep up oral hygiene with fixed retainers. Clear retainers are easily removed which helps clean them, as well as your teeth regularly. You can ensure your oral hygiene by regular brushing and flossing by removing them.
5. Precision
Clear retainers are custom-made plastic trays created with precision to closely fit and hold your teeth in their position. This allows them to cover more surface area than traditional options, thus making them more precise and effective.
Getting your teeth straightened is a lifetime commitment and clear retainers offer a solution that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.
How To Clean Your Custom Retainers
If not cleaned regularly, retainers can accumulate bacteria, plaque, and food particles. Moreover, they must be stored properly to avoid any contamination, scratches, and damage. Here’s how to clean them daily:
Daily Cleaning
Rinse your retainers daily with plain water. If you wish you may use some unscented soap using a soft bristle toothbrush.
Thorough Cleaning
Every few days, clean your retainers more thoroughly to avoid any plaque or odor buildup. Use any of these three methods:
ALIGNERCO Cleaner:
This multipurpose cleaner is easy to use and works great for your retainers, mouthguards, aligners, and your teeth. Use one foam pump and spread it evenly on your retainer. Leave it for 10 seconds and wear the retainer as is or after rinsing. The cleaner has whitening properties and is safe to use on teeth.
Denture Cleaner:
Soak your retainers in a denture-cleaning solution according to the instructions provided by your brand. You may follow up with some mild brushing and rinse.
Mouthwash solution:
Use a solution of equal parts mouthwash and water in a glass, enough to submerge your retainer, and let them sit in this solution for 15 to 20 minutes. If you find frequent odor from your retainers, look into its underlying causes and solutions.
Care Tips
To get the most out of your retained, you must look after How to Care for Your Retainers.
1. Always Store Your Retainers in Their Case: Whenever you're not wearing your retainers, to protect them from damage and germs, always keep them in the case that comes with them.
2. Rinse Your Retainers Before Putting Them On: Before inserting your retainers, give them a quick rinse to remove any possible particles. If possible, rinse them before you put them back in their case, too.
3. Wear Your Retainers on Clean Teeth: For optimal dental hygiene is recommended that you wear your retainers on clean teeth, preferably after brushing.
4. Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Keep your retainers away from excessive heat and cold. Retainers are made out of plastic, and extreme temperatures can warp or distort their shape.
5. Don’t Eat or Drink with Retainers On: Except for water, avoid eating or drinking with your retainers on to prevent shape distortion and staining.
6. Clean Your Retainers Daily: For maintaining dental hygiene, clean your retainers every day by the method prescribed above, and once a week, clean them thoroughly. This will keep them fresh for longer.
7. Replace Retainers Periodically: Look for signs of wear and tear on your retainers and replace them when needed. Cacks and shape distortion can compromise their ability to hold your teeth in their correct position and can become spots for harboring bacteria.
8. Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Do not use strong chemicals, cleaners, or abrasive products on your retainers, as they can damage the material and leave scratches on its surface.
By following these care guidelines, you’ll ensure your retainers stay in great condition and continue to support your smile effectively. Following these retainers do’s and don’t ensures that yours will last a long time.
DIY clear retainers are an easy, effective, and affordable solution to keep your smile right after an orthodontic treatment. They are easy to maintain and don’t compromise on your looks. Above all, they give you freedom from frequent dental clinic visits because you can make your own with the help of at-home impression kits.
FAQs
Q: Can I make dental impressions at home?
A: Yes, with ALIGNERCO's at-home dental impression kit, you can make perfect impressions from the comfort of your home.
Q: How long will I have to wear retainers for?
A: Every case is different, but generally it is recommended that initially, you have to wear them for 22 hours max, taking them out for food and brushing. After a few months or as prescribed by your dentist, you can wear them at night only.
Q: I forgot to wear my retainers and now they don’t fit.
A: This means your teeth have shifted back a little. You can either choose to hold them at their current position by ordering another DIY retainer kit or you can shift them back to alignment by opting for an aligner treatment plan.
Q: Can I get clear retainers after braces or aligners?
A: You can opt for clear retainers after any orthodontic treatment, be it with aligners or metal braces.
