What do retainers do?

What do retainers do?

Healthline says retainers keep teeth from shifting back after braces. Teeth need at least four to six months to settle into their new position, and a retainer guards against relapse during that time and beyond. The American Association of Orthodontists says how long you wear one depends on your orthodontist's advice and your stage of post-treatment, and that a retainer is typically needed for a lifetime, though how often you wear it may decrease. Our guides on how long to wear a retainer cover timing.

What is a permanent retainer?

Healthline describes a permanent, bonded or fixed retainer as a metal wire, usually copper, nickel, titanium or a combination, cemented to the inside of the front teeth, most often the lower ones. Only a dentist or orthodontist can remove it. Because it stays in, you cannot lose it, but food and plaque can collect around it, so cleaning with a threader or interdental brush matters, which is general advice and flagged.

What is a Hawley retainer?

Healthline says a Hawley retainer is removable: thin metal wire set into plastic or acrylic that fits the roof of the mouth or the inside of the lower teeth, with the wire running across the outer surfaces of the teeth. It says Hawley retainers are adjustable and more durable, but more visible and more likely to affect speech.

What is an Essix retainer?

Healthline describes clear plastic removable retainers, with brands including Essix, Vivera and Zendura, each made from a thin, heat-molded plastic or polyurethane that fits over a mold of the teeth. It says they are less visible and more comfortable, but cannot be adjusted or repaired, and they can discolor and warp with heat. Heat is also a warning in Cleveland Clinic's advice, which says not to leave a retainer somewhere hot like a car or stovetop.

What are permanent retainers made of?

Healthline says a metal wire, usually copper, nickel, titanium or a combination. Our guide does not give brand or alloy detail beyond that, and the sources we read do not cover allergy to nickel or similar issues, so ask your orthodontist if you have a metal allergy.

How long do retainers last?

Healthline's 2018 page gives a wide range: a permanent retainer can last indefinitely, a Hawley retainer between one and twenty years, and clear retainers six to twelve months or more. Those ranges come from one older page, so treat them as a guide. Cleveland Clinic says to clean it at least once a day and keep it away from heat and pets, which helps it last, and our guide on cleaning retainers gives the details.

What do you do if you lose your retainer?

Healthline says to contact your orthodontist as soon as possible so a replacement can be made before your teeth relapse, and that keeping removable retainers in a case helps prevent loss. Cleveland Clinic says not to wrap a retainer in a napkin or put it in a pocket or purse outside its case. Our guide on what happens if you do not wear your retainer explains what can happen in the meantime.

How much does a replacement cost?

Healthline's page gives price ranges but they date from 2018 and we do not repeat them. Our replacement retainer cost page covers how quotes work. Ask the orthodontist for a written quote and whether your mold or scan is kept for replacements.

Do retainers affect speech or comfort?

Healthline says Hawley retainers are more likely to affect speech and that clear retainers are more comfortable. Neither Cleveland Clinic nor the AAO describes how long it takes to get used to a retainer. A removable retainer can feel tight or make you lisp at first, which is general experience and flagged, and it usually settles as you wear it. If it hurts or rubs a sore, contact your orthodontist, because a retainer that is bent or no longer fits should be checked, and our guide on whether retainers hurt covers this.

Questions to ask your orthodontist

Take these to your appointment.

• Which type of retainer is best for me?
• How long and how often should I wear it?
• How do I clean it, and what should I avoid?
• What do I do if it breaks or I lose it?
• Do you keep my mold or scan for a replacement?

Frequently asked questions