Getting Used to Retainers

Getting kids into wearing their retainers and keeping them safe is a challenging task but knowing their benefits and how to make sure your child gets used to their retainers will help them go through the whole process stress-free – and with higher marks from your Belmont WA dentist.

Once orthodontic treatment is done, wearing retainers is an essential part of the maintenance of the straightened teeth and will go a long way towards keeping your bite and smile formed by braces.

Usually, retainers are made by the dentist who performed the orthodontic treatment.

This is done by making moulds or impressions of the straightened teeth and making the retainer out of wire and/or acrylic material.

The retainers are then tested during another appointment.

Kinds of Retainers

There are 2 kinds of retainers available: fixed and removable retainers.

Z Fixed Retainers

Fixed retainers are a thin wire fixed across the back of the upper or lower front teeth.

Because this type of wire reaches several teeth, a floss threader or a similar cleaning device should be used to reach and clean the spaces between the teeth.

Although this type of retainer takes a little more effort to keep clean, it has the best result since the bonded wire holds the newly straightened teeth in perfect formation.

Z Removable Retainers

Removable retainers are a combination of a wire that goes across the upper and/or lower front teeth, secured with an acrylic material and hooks in and around the back teeth to keep them in place.

It is easier to keep the teeth clean, but the patient has to remember to wear it every day.

Initially, your Belmont WA dentist will recommend wearing it for 24 hours for at least three months; if there’s no improvement noticed, you may be instructed to wear the retainer at night or for a few hours during daytime.

Your Belmont WA dentist will recommend the best type for you based on your preferences and needs.

You will likely be using your retainer for several months or even years, so it is important that you have the kind that works for you and that you’ll use as instructed.