Braces have been worn by several people to correct one tooth problem or another; however, surprisingly, for people who have used braces, it does not end there. The newly corrected teeth will have to be maintained by the use of retainers.
Retainers are of two types. There are the removable retainers such as Essix retainers, and there is the permanent or bonded retainer. Also, some retainers are special braces. These types of braces can be used for teeth straightening. Retainers require care and maintenance for them to last longer. For this article, we are explaining different kinds of retainers, their costs, and how to maintain them. You can also visit our dental clinic at Harley street London or call 02071830903 for further enquiries.
A retainer is a device that is worn over or behind the teeth, as recommended by the dentist. They are worn to keep the teeth in place and maintain their position. Retainers can be made from either clear plastic, metal wire, or from the combination of the two.
Retainers are worn after the completion of treatment with braces, to make the treatment permanent and maintain the changes the braces have made to the teeth. There are different types of retainers, and they all function in slightly different ways. However, they all have the same purpose.
Retainers are worn after treatment through braces have been completed. Honestly, no one who has worn braces for a long time will tell you that it was a pleasant experience. Once you have achieved that dream, perfect smile you want, the last thing you would want, is for your teeth to go back to its former shape or state.
Naturally, after wearing braces, the teeth begin to move back to their original positions and shape. This is where the retainers are applicable. The retainers are worn to maintain the newly achieved position of the teeth and to hold them in place.
Retainers work by maintaining the position of your teeth, and preventing them from moving, especially after treatment from braces has been completed, or after the eruption of wisdom tooth.
Wearing retainers, whether they are fixed or removable, ensures your teeth remain in position for years. Depending on the area where you received treatment using braces, retainers can be worn on the upper teeth, or the lower teeth, or both.
Braces are designed explicitly for teeth alignment problems. If you have misaligned teeth, overbite, underbite, crowded teeth, Gapped teeth, etc. there are braces designed for all and each of these problems.
Treatment can be with traditional metal braces (one with brackets), or with removable braces like Invisalign. Depending on the severity of the problem, treatment with braces can last between 6 months to about 3 years.
Retainers, on the other hand, are used, not for treatment, but to maintain the treatment that has been completed with braces. Simply put, retainers are worn to prevent your teeth from going back to the way they used to be, before treatment.
Although retainers are designed for holding teeth in place after correction, there are some retainers that can be used for teeth straightening. However, this is only possible if mild correction is required.
A good example is a case where a patient’s teeth have begun to move again after some years, back to its original position before treatment. In this case, a special retainer for mild correction can be used.
At The Harley Street Dental Clinic London, we advise our patients on the most suitable treatment to go for. Visit our dental clinic today or contact us on 02071830903 for good recommendations from our qualified dentists.
There are retainers with extra parts for moving one or more teeth into place, to prevent overcrowding. One of such retainer is the Spring Aligner retainer.
You have the option of straightening your teeth without traditional metal braces. There are the Invisalign clear aligners, which look just like clear plastic retainers, only that they have been designed to put pressure on teeth and align them properly.
Besides maintaining the position of corrected teeth, retainers also serve other purposes as well. They include;
As established earlier, there are different types of retainers available. Although they differ as a result of their component material or mode of usage, they all have the same primary function; maintaining the position of corrected teeth.
For advice on the most suitable type of retainer for you, you can reach out to our dentists at Harley street London.
Essix retainer is a removable clear retainer that sits above the gum line, but completely covering the teeth when worn.
Essix retainers do not last as long as other retainers and may get discoloured over time. However, this depends on your maintenance practices and cleaning routine. It is more preferred by people because of its near invisibility, as compared to wire retainers.
Fixed retainers are permanent, bonded retainers. They can also be referred to as lingual retainers. This type of retainer is hidden when worn, giving it a bit of edge over other types of retainers, and also making it a bit more expensive than others.
Fixed retainers are used only on the six teeth in front of the lower jaw, mostly. This is done by glueing a strong wire behind the teeth permanently, although it might require replacements every 3 -10 years. The demerits to this type of retainers are difficulties in cleaning the teeth and flossing.
This type of retainers are one of the cheapest after Essex retainers — this makes them highly available on the market. Hawley retainers are also called metal or wire retainers and are removable retainers. Their plates are made from acrylic plastic which is the part that touches the gum and the palette.
Hawley retainers are removable. This means you can take them out when eating or drinking. The negative side to this retainer is the fact that they are very noticeable, especially when worn on the upper teeth. This is probably due to the presence of wires that sits across the teeth and over them as well.
Hawley retainers can last for a long time if maintained properly. You even have the choice of customising the plate to a colour of your choice or even add a pattern.
Vivera retainer is the retainer from the Invisalign braces manufacturer. It is also called Invisalign retainer and is produced from a strong material, making it less likely to break.
Getting a Vivera retainer does not require that you must have had Invisalign braces. To get one, a laser scan of your mouth will be taken. This makes it a good option if you do not want the feeling of teeth impressions.
Various factors determine the eventual cost of a retainer. These factors include;
The various prices of a retainer with private dentists include
| Type | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
Essex | £50 – £135 | 6 months -3 years |
Hawley | £70 – £150 | 5 -10 years |
Fixed | £100 – £300 | 3 -10 years |
Vivera(invisalign) | £300 – £420 | 1 – 5 years |
The above prices are for single retainers except for Vivera retainers that usually comes in a set of about 3 or 4 pieces. The costs can also include follow-up treatment, although this will have to be discussed with the dentist.
You can visit our dental clinic at Harley street London or call 02071830903 right away to discuss with our dentists on type of retainer that will be most suitable for your teeth and the costs.
Retainers should be worn at long as possible, possibly for the rest of your life. This is to ensure that your teeth remain straight and aligned, long after receiving treatment through braces. It is normal for teeth to move throughout our lives, but with retainers, the movement is controlled, and your smile permanent.
For removable retainers, you will have to wear it all the time for the first six months, only taking it out when you eat. After the first six months, you can be advised by our dentist at Harley street London to wear them only at night or for specific hours during the day. For permanent retainers, they remain in place all the time. There is no need to remove them for cleaning or eating.
It is highly relevant to clean your retainer, just as it is important to clean your natural teeth. Failure to do so will lead to dirt, bacteria and plaque build-up due to food particles being stuck in them. Not cleaning your retainers properly is guaranteed to cause tooth decay, gum disease and even mouth odour, not to mention the discolouration that will occur as a result of poor maintenance.
Cleaning removable retainers is quite different from cleaning permanent or fixed retainers. Our qualified dentists at Harley street London can provide you with tips on how to properly clean your retainers.
Plastic or removable metal retainers can be cleaned effectively in the following ways;
The cleaning process for fixed or permanent retainers is different because they cannot be removed. The important thing to note is that certain tools are essential in cleaning fixed retainers. Tools like dental floss and interdental brushes.
Interdental brushes make it easier to get into some areas where plaque may likely build-up. Floss, on the other hand, will require athreader so it can pass between the teeth. You can use any of the two, depending on which works for you, but brushing your natural teeth is highly important.
There are various types of retainers to choose from. However, wire or plastic retainers are usually recommended after braces. Usually, the appropriate choice of retainers for you is dependent on certain factors including cost, visibility of the retainers, comfort, maintenance and advice from our dentist.
There is equally the choice of metal retainers and clear retainers. It is up to you to weigh the pros and the cons and always ask your dentist for recommendations and why. As long as they are removable, they can always be changed.
Often, pain is experienced, but this is usually for only a day or two after fitting. It should subside or stop entirely after some days, even without the use of painkillers. If the pain does not stop after some days or get loose, you can see our dentist Harley street London to proffer a suitable solution immediately.
Your retainer smells when they are not adequately cleaned. Exposure to food, bacteria in the mouth and even plaque can make them smell if not cleaned properly.
You can soak them in solutions like Retainer Brite every couple of days to keep them from smelling, and from being stained.
The truth remains that without retainers, your teeth will not stay straight. Teeth movement is entirely normal and can be unpredictable sometimes. To ensure that the treatment remains permanent, you will have to wear retainers for as long as you live.
Retainers have been very useful in keeping and maintaining our teeth in aligned positions after treatment using braces. They perform the duty of keeping the teeth in place. There are also retainer braces that provide mild correction, but not the full purpose of a brace.
There are various types of retainers that one can wear after braces, all with the same purpose of maintainingstraightened teeth. Your choice depends on the cost and the advice of a dentist.
Whether you choose a removable retainer such as Hawley, Essix or Vivera, or a fixed or permanent retainer, the important thing is to clean them properly so that they last as long as possible.
At The Harley Street Dental Clinic, we offer exceptional dental services to anyone who needs it. We also provide advice on the most suitable retainer for you. Visit our clinic at Harley street London or call us on 02071830903 to schedule an appointment with us. Get in touch with us today.
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