Unlocking the Power of Retainers: Preserve Your Child's Perfect Smile
After your child completes orthodontic treatment and achieves a beautifully aligned smile, our expert orthodontists will prescribe a retainer. This essential orthodontic device serves to maintain the correct alignment of their teeth, preventing any unwanted shifts. Contact The Pediatric Dental Group of Milford, Franklin and Northborough to get more information.
Maintaining Your Beautiful Smile: Understanding and Choosing the Right Retainer
After completing your orthodontic treatment and achieving the desired alignment of your teeth, our pediatric dentist will prescribe a retainer. These custom-made oral appliances are essential for maintaining the newly straightened position of your teeth, preventing any undesired shifts.
You'll have a choice of different retainer types, each tailored to your unique needs:
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​Hawley Retainers
These consist of wires and clasps set in a plastic body, covering the roof of your mouth or aligning with the tongue-side of your teeth. The clasps secure the retainer in place, ensuring your teeth remain correctly aligned.
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Clear (Essix) Retainers
Crafted from clear plastic, these retainers fit snugly over your teeth. They offer a discreet appearance similar to clear aligners but may be less durable than Hawley or fixed retainers.
Fixed Retainers
Also known as bonded or permanent retainers, these are affixed to the back surfaces of your front teeth to prevent any shifts. Only a dental professional can remove a fixed retainer.
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To learn more about retainers and explore your options, please don't hesitate to contact our office in Milford, Franklin and Northborough and schedule a consultation with our expert team of pediatric dentists and orthodontists.
My treatment is done. Why do I need a retainer?
While it is true that your treatment may be finished, your teeth and jaw ligaments still need time to settle into their new positions. A retainer ensures that your teeth will maintain their new alignment.
What is a retainer?
A retainer is an oral appliance that, depending on your needs, is often made of plastic or acrylic. You will wear it as directed by our orthodontists. Some people need to wear a retainer for a period of months, others may need to wear one while they sleep for the rest of their lives. There are three basic types of retainers: Clear retainers are often used following a treatment such as Invisalign® clear aligners and are made of clear plastic; however, they may be used after other types of treatments. Because of their clarity, they are a more aesthetic option, but they may not be as durable as other types of appliances. Fixed retainers are permanently bonded to the back of the teeth. This type of retainer can only be removed by our dentists or another dental professional. Hawley retainers are the most common type of retainer. They are made of acrylic or plastic and fit against the roof of the mouth or along the inside of the lower teeth. The retainer has metal clasps that attach to certain teeth and a wire that runs along the front of the teeth to help maintain alignment.
How do I care for my retainer?
You should gently brush your retainer every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a nonabrasive toothpaste. Some whitening toothpastes may be too abrasive for your retainer. Retainers can be very expensive to replace, and when you are not wearing yours, you should keep it its case. If you have had a fixed retainer placed, our orthodontists and team will show you how to brush and floss to keep it and your smile clean. If you break or lose your retainer, contact our office as soon as possible.