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Month: August 2022

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Dental care

What type of retainers are better?

What type of retainers are better?

After your Invisalign treatment, the next step is to wear retainers. Retainers are vital to wear after the orthodontic treatment because they help to keep your teeth in place and in the best shape possible for the rest of your life.

After the teeth straightening treatment, people often get confused while choosing retainers. There are mainly two types of retainers: fixed and removable.

Fixed are also called bonded, or permanent retainers, and removable retainers are also called Hawley or Essix retainers.

Depending upon your teeth condition, your dentist will give you retainers suitable for you. After the teeth straightening process, you still have to take care of your teeth. It can be done by wearing retainers as they will prevent your teeth from shifting back to their previous position.

You must visit your dentist to know which retainer you should wear. Though the purpose of all the retainers is the same, they can affect your teeth differently. Therefore, knowing how different retainers work is vital to choosing the best for yourself.

How do different types of retainers work?

Below listed are different types of retainers and how they work:-

Permanent retainers:

Permanent retainers are also called fixed or bonded wire retainers. As the name suggests, these retainers are fixed to your teeth only onto the six teeth in the front and the back. These retainers are glued behind the teeth providing permanent support to help your teeth retain their shape and position. After continuously wearing permanent retainers, you might have to replace them after 5-6 years.

Removable retainers:

As the name suggests, these are removable retainers. You can remove it while eating, drinking, flossing, or brushing your teeth. Removable retainers are called Essix retainers. They sit above your gum line. These are made up of clear plastic, which makes them less noticeable.These were some of the retainers and you can choose one depending upon your requirements and budget. Lastly, if you face any problem with your retainers, make sure to visit your dentist for proper treatment.

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Dental care

How often should I clean my retainer?

With the teeth straightening process comes the responsibility to properly clean your teeth and retainers to maintain good oral hygiene. Retainers are made from plastic and wire; both plastic and wire-bound retainers are delicate and need daily cleaning and washing. Patients’ most common question about their retainers is how and when they have to clean them.

Retainers are delicate and can easily get torn off if you do not take proper care of them. Not taking good care of your retainers can also harm your teeth straightening process. There are some common steps that you should follow to clean your retainers. 

You should always wash your retainers before putting them back in your mouth. In addition, after having a meal, you should always wash and brush your teeth and retainers to ensure there are no debris or food particles between them. 

Not only this, it is vital to clean your retainers with lukewarm water after you have taken them out of your mouth to ensure that they are properly cleaned, and you can wear them again. Moreover, if you see plaque build-up or stain on your retainers, you can soak them in a dishwashing shop and clean them lightly with a soft brush. You can do this method every once a week to properly disinfect your retainers.

What are the advantages of cleaning your retainers often?

Apart from washing your retainers daily, you should deep-clean your retainers every 2 days a week. Some advantages of cleaning your retainers often are:

  • It will increase the life of your retainers.
  • It will prevent your teeth from cavities.
  • Cleaning your retainers will prevent any dental relapse.
  • Deep-cleaning your retainers will save them from turning yellow and plaque build-up.

Lastly, if you experience any issues with your retainers, you must visit your dentist for the treatment.

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Dental care

How long do permanent retainers last?

There are two types of retainers: permanent and removable/temporary. Both these prevent your teeth from shifting back to their previous position. Retainers are important for maintaining a straight-looking and prominent smile forever.

Permanent retainers are made from plastic or metal wires or a combination of both. Most dentists give metal or wire constructed permanent retainers as they are more sturdy.

Permanent retainers are fixed at the back of your front teeth, and you can’t take them out. Permanent retainers are good as there is no worry of losing them, though they can make your oral hygiene routine a little difficult. But if you are daily brushing your mouth before and after every meal, it is not a problem.

How much time do permanent retainers work without replacement?

After you have worn your Invisalign aligners for 6-24 months depending upon your condition, you have to wear permanent retainers. As the name suggests, permanent retainers are worn daily on and off.Permanent retainers are high in sturdiness and quality compared to temporary retainers. So, they last longer than temporary retainers for up to 20 years. With proper care, permanent retainers can greatly impact keeping your teeth in a straight position.

However, permanent retainers are not invincible; they can also damage with time if you do not follow a proper flossing and brushing routine.

Therefore, a permanent retainer is not permanent in a true sense as you must replace them once worn out. You can not wear a damaged retainer as it can harm the progress of your teeth straightening process.

Even if you have to change your permanent retainers at some point, they are more durable than any other retainer.

Lastly, if you experience any issue with your retainers, you must visit your dentist for proper treatment.