You’ve spent a lot of time and money straightening your teeth with braces. Once they finally come off, it’s important to maintain all that hard work. That’s what a retainer is for! This orthodontic tool prevents your teeth from shifting back into their old position. While various types of retainers exist, they divide into two primary groups: removable and nonremovable. Between a permanent retainer vs. removable retainer, which is best to preserve your smile correction?
Before comparing the two, it’s important to understand the role of retainers in preserving your newly aligned smile. Both removable and non-removable retainers effectively prevent your teeth from shifting back out of alignment, though each brings different strengths and trade-offs. During your free evaluation, we will recommend the best option tailored to your specific needs.
What Is the Role of a Retainer After a Smile Correction?
Why do you need a retainer? After completing orthodontic treatment with braces, retainers help maintain proper alignment.
Your teeth aren’t rigidly locked into your jawbone. In fact, a network of elastic ligaments in your mouth actually anchors them into place. Without the constant pressure of braces, these connective bands will naturally pull your teeth back to their original spots. In orthodontics, this is called a “relapse.” The risk of relapse is highest within the first 6-12 months of braces removal. The risk subsides over time, but never fully goes away.
By holding teeth in their corrected positions, retainers help prevent relapse after braces and preserve the effort that went into improving your smile’s alignment. They come in several different types, each with their own strengths and drawbacks.
Permanent Retainer vs. Removable: Comparing Your Choices
While you might hear about a variety of retainer options, they fall into two main categories: permanent and removable. Depending on your case, we will find the best retainer to preserve your newly aligned teeth for years to come.
Removable Retainers
There are a few types of removable options.
When you picture a retainer, you’re likely thinking about the Hawley retainer. This consists of a thin acrylic plate that fits against the roof of your mouth or along your lower jaw. It also features an adjustable metal wire, custom-designed to snap over your teeth. This type of retainer is visible when it’s in your mouth.
Another option is a clear retainer that is custom-fit to your teeth. It looks very similar to an Invisalign® clear aligner and is sold under various brand names, including Essix and Vivera. When worn, this retainer is nearly invisible.
The biggest drawback of removable retainers is the risk of forgetting to follow the orthodontist’s instructions. This increases the risk of your teeth shifting back to the old position.
But on the plus side, it’s easier to maintain oral hygiene with removable retainers. Simply remove the oral appliance, brush and floss as usual, and clean the retainer regularly.
Permanent Retainers
Permanent retainers, on the other hand, are bonded to your teeth using a custom-wire design tucked on the inside of your mouth, making them completely invisible from the front. They’re often used in areas that are most prone to relapse, which tends to be your lower teeth.
Since permanent retainers never come out, you don’t run the risk of forgetting to wear them. A trade-off is that permanent retainers are more difficult to clean, increasing the risk of plaque buildup.
When we treat your smile, we will recommend the retainer that best preserves your teeth’s alignment. Whether a removable retainer or a permanent retainer is best, we will help you find the right treatment to preserve your newly straightened smile!
Come in for a Free Evaluation
Wondering about the difference between permanent and removable retainers? The first step to understanding the difference between the two is to learn their role in preserving your smile after braces. Your teeth “remember” the position they used to be in and will naturally shift back to their original state. But retainers prevent this, helping to preserve your beautiful, straight smile! Removable retainers make it easier to keep your teeth clean, but you run the risk of failing to follow instructions, which increases the chance of relapse. On the other hand, permanent retainers eliminate the need to remember to wear them for the allotted time. But keeping your teeth clean takes more effort.
At Orthodontists Associates of Western New York, we want to help you preserve your corrected smile after braces. Ready to learn the best way to retain your newly aligned smile? Book a free evaluation at one of our offices across Western New York. We have locations in Buffalo, Hamburg, Lancaster, Niagara Falls, Olean, Orchard Park, Dunkirk, and East Aurora.
