Orthodontic Retainer Options
The day your braces are removed is a joyous day. After all, you’ve spent months waiting for your straight teeth and beautiful smile. However, that’s not the end of your treatment. Now you enter the retention period and must wear an orthodontic retainer to ensure your teeth remain in the correct place. Orthodontic retainers are designed to fit your adjusted teeth, which helps hold them in place after your treatment is complete, which makes retainers an important part of the treatment process.
Types of Orthodontic Retainers
Every patient has unique needs and requires a custom retainer to match. At Empire Orthodontics, we provide several retainer types to:
- Traditional retainers consist of metal wire wrapping around the front teeth. An acrylic arch rests on the roof of the mouth.
- Clear retainers resemble clear aligners. They are created from a mold of your new smile and create a more aesthetic alternative to traditional retainers.
- Fixed retainers featured bonded wires that attach to your teeth. Some patients require this for one year, but others need it to remain in place until the cement fails.
Which type of device and how long you must wear it depends on the complexity of your orthodontic treatment.
Wearing Your Orthodontic Retainers
Removable retainers are worn consistently for several months but eventually could change to wearing them at night only. Some patients require wearing a retainer for years to maintain their tooth alignment.
Depending on your unique needs, an Empire Dental orthodontic specialist will provide you with a suitable retainer. You’ll receive detailed instructions on wearing it for the best results and cleaning it to prevent plaque and bacteria buildup.
Empire Orthodontics in Beavercreek & West Chester
Orthodontics is an investment that can be protected with a custom-fit retainer to keep teeth from shifting back to their original position. For kids, a permanent retainer may be the best option since kids tend to forget to wear their retainer as prescribed by their orthodontist. Dr. Davidson and his team at Empire Orthodontics can find the right retainer solution for you or your child. Schedule an appointment at our Beavercreek or West Chester office to learn more about our Orthodontic Retainer options.
