What's the Deal with Retainers?

A few weeks ago, we talked about the importance of wearing your retainers. Now we are going to give you some information regarding Essix, Hawley and permanent retainers.

Essix retainers are…

-clear and fit over the teeth.
-produced from impressions that are taken of the teeth.
-open across the roof of the mouth.
-can be easily removed for eating, brushing and flossing.
-function just like invisalign only the there is no tooth movement occuring
-can serve as aligners in the years to come after braces are removed. This means that if a tooth starts to move out of alignment, your Essix retainer will realign your teeth, provided it has not been too long since the aligners have been worn.


Hawley retainers include…

-a metal wire that fits around the teeth and holds them in place.
-an acrylic arch that sits in the roof of the mouth.
-can easily be removed for eating, brushing and flossing.

Permanent retainers are…

-bonded inconspicuously to the inside of the teeth
-can only be removed by your orthodontist

No matter which type of retainer you have, it is extremely important to wear your retainer as often as your orthodontist recommends. Always remember to...

-brush your teeth after meals before putting your retainers back in.
-brush your retainer every time you brush your teeth.
-disinfect your retainer by soaking it in mouth wash.
-keep your retainers in your retainer case when you are not wearing them.
-never wrap your retainer in a napkin or paper towel because you might accidentally throw it away.
-keep retainers out of reach of pets