Retainers, as the name suggests, are the orthodontic devices that help maintain teeth alignment. The advancements of orthodontics have made it easier to achieve the smile of your dreams. However, teeth straightening doesn’t end with an aligner or braces treatment. Retainers are included as part of the procedure once you complete your straightening journey. In this blog, let us explore retainers, their purpose, benefits, and find the answer to the question, “Do retainers fix teeth movement?”
What Are Retainers?
Retainers are dental devices used after your teeth are aligned. It doesn’t matter if you have had your teeth straightened with braces or aligners; retainers play a crucial role in teeth shifting prevention and help maintain your new smile.
Types of Retainers
Retainers are available in different designs, each with its pros and cons. You can choose the type of retainer that best suits the severity of your dental issue and lifestyle.
Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers include a metal wire attached to an acrylic base that sits on the roof of the mouth or the tongue side of your lower arch. They are a durable option that can last for years, ensuring smooth tooth retention. This type of retainer is easily adjusted and can be removed to maintain oral hygiene and for eating.
Clear Retainers
Clear retainers are another type of retainer that helps in the smooth retention of teeth in their new places. They are composed of BPA-free plastic, making them barely visible. It is the ideal appliance for anyone wanting to retain their smile without being noticed. Clear retainers are worn for a specified time and can be easily removed for oral hygiene and eating purposes.
Fixed Retainers
Fixed or bonded retainers are bonded to the inside of the teeth. They are fixed on the teeth and cannot be removed without the supervision of an expert. They are durable for teeth retention, but often make it challenging to ensure regular brushing and flossing.
Can Retainers Realign Teeth?
Retainers are often confused with aligners due to their appearance. However, aligners are the ones that fix the alignment of teeth by exerting gentle pressure. On the other hand, the purpose of retainers is to retain teeth in their newly aligned positions. After undergoing teeth straightening, there is still a chance of an orthodontic relapse, and retainers help prevent that relapse.
Benefits of Retainers
Here are some of the benefits of post-braces treatment with retainers.
Maintains Teeth Alignment
If you are facing any sort of dental misalignment and want to undergo an orthodontic treatment, a retainer will help you retain your smile once you’re done.
Prevent Relapse
After your teeth are aligned through any of the teeth straightening treatments, it is important to retain them in their new positions with the help of retainers. They mainly help in preventing a possible orthodontic relapse (where teeth move back to their old, misaligned positions).
Better Oral Hygiene
Misaligned teeth are hard to clean and are at a higher risk of gum disease and decay. Retainers allow you to lock in your hard-earned dream smile forever, therefore, ensuring good oral hygiene.
Improved Chewing and Speech
Tooth misalignments interfere with your bite function, making chewing harder. It may also affect your speech. By maintaining the alignment of your teeth, retainers allow you to continue eating and speaking with ease.
Retainer Care
All dental devices, including a retainer, require proper maintenance to ensure their longevity and your oral hygiene. To ensure proper retainer care , you must rinse your retainer before and after usage. Use a soft-bristle brush to clean your retainer with a non-abrasive toothpaste every day, and deep clean with a retainer cleaner at least once a week. Avoid using hot water as it may warp the plastic.
ALIGNERCO Retainers
When it comes to retaining smiles, ALIGNERCO offers an effective and hassle-free way. Our retainers are composed of clear BPA-free plastic to provide a smooth retention phase without anyone noticing. Moreover, you don’t even have to leave your house. Get your custom-fit gadget at your doorstep.
Why Choose ALIGNERCO?
Here is why ALIGNERCO Clear Retainers can be your new smile’s best friend.
Durable
Our retainers are composed of high-quality materials to offer durable and long-lasting comfort, for a reliable and extended wear.
Affordable
With ALIGNERCO Retainers, you can maintain your smile without disturbing your budget. Our affordable retainers can be ideal for you.
Safe
Our retainers are made from BPA-free, medical-grade materials to ensure they are safe, gentle, and won't hurt your mouth.
Maintenance
Our clear retainers can be removed without expert supervision. You can easily rinse or deep clean them before and after every use.
How to Order ALIGNERCO Retainers?
At Home Impressions
Our retainers are customized to each patient’s dental structure. An impressions kit will be sent your way upon ordering our retainers. Follow the instructions to create perfect impressions.
Send Us Your Impressions
Use the prepaid shipping label to send your impressions back to us. Our smile experts will use the impressions to craft your custom-fit retainers.
Get Your Retainers
Once your retainers are fabricated, we will send them your way. Within a few days, you will receive them at your doorstep. Now you can retain your smile without the hassle of long clinic visits.
Retainers: Guardians of Your Smiles
Retainers after braces are an essential step that must be followed to ensure your newly achieved smile stays intact. They are often confused with aligners. So, it is important to understand that while clear aligners or braces move teeth, retainers help in maintaining the movement achieved.
There are different types of retainers for you to choose from according to your lifestyle and case requirements. Initially, your orthodontist might recommend that you wear retainers full-time, shifting to nighttime wear only after a few months. If you are looking for affordable, clear retainers, ALIGNERCO can be the best fit for you.
Regardless of which retainer your orthodontist recommends, proper retainer cleaning when wearing retainers long-term is key to the longevity of the retainer and your oral health.
FAQs
Can retainers shift my teeth back?
No, aligners or braces are teeth straightening treatments that help shift teeth to their proper alignment. Retainers, on the other hand, maintain the alignment of teeth achieved by orthodontic treatments.
Can I start wearing my retainer again if it fits?
If you stopped wearing your retainers for any reason, it is better to consult your orthodontist before re-wearing them, as your teeth may have shifted.
Do retainers keep your teeth in place?
Yes, after getting your teeth straightened, retainers help to keep them in place, preventing an orthodontic relapse.
Can retainers push gums back?
Retainers are used to keep teeth in place after alignment. They do not directly push gums back. However, if the retainers are too tight, they may irritate and push against the gums.
Citation:
Professional, C. C. M. (2025, March 19). Teeth Retainer. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/10899-teeth-retainer
American Association of Orthodontists. Multiple pages reviewed. Will I Need to Wear Retainers After Treatment? (https://www.aaoinfo.org/blog/will-i-need-to-wear-retainers/) Accessed 8/25/2022.
Dentaly.org. Teeth Retainers: What’s the Best Type? Hawley, Essix, and More (https://www.dentaly.org/us/adult-braces/teeth-retainers/). Accessed 8/25/2022.
Health Direct. Dental braces and retainers (https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-braces-and-retainers). Accessed 8/25/2022.
NHS. Orthodontic treatments (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/orthodontics/treatments/). Accessed 8/25/2022.


