Permanent or Removable Retainers: Which is Right for You?

YES!!!  It’s time to remove your braces! Unfortunately, it can be somewhat confusing because you have heard about retainers, but don’t know too much about them. Permanent, removable, clear, acrylic, full-time, part-time – what’s all this about? Retainers are used to maintain, or retain, the position of your teeth after your orthodontic treatment is complete. Without retainers, your teeth are prone to relapse, and will very likely bounce back towards their original, genetically-programmed positions.

Not to worry, Dr. Chow will be prescribing a retainer protocol and schedule customized for your teeth and treatment, so that we can maintain your shining smile for many years to come!

Removable Retainers

Removable retainers are exactly that – removable. They are worn on the teeth to hold the positions, but the retainer is removed for eating, brushing, and playing active sports.  Full-time wear would dictate that the retainer is worn to school, as well as to sleep, with a total daily wear time of 20-22 hours per day.

Removable retainers typically come in a few varieties. Most people will conjure up thoughts of the classic acrylic retainer with a wire across the front teeth. This is a very commonly used retainer in orthodontics, and in our office. We also use more esthetic alternatives which are clear and invisible, like an Invisalign aligner. These Essix or Vivera retainers maintain the position of the teeth equally as well as acrylic retainers. Dr. Chow will customize your retainers to fit you and your treatment outcome to ensure that your teeth maintain their alignment over time.

Regardless of the type of removable retainer, you will be able to enjoy full access to your teeth and gums for easy brushing and flossing. However, since it’s removable, a removable retainer can easily be forgotten at school, in a restaurant, or left on the beach while on vacation!

Permanent Retainers

Permanent retainers are just that – permanent!  In our office, a permanent retainer is a thin braided wire bonded or glued to the inside of the front teeth to maintain their alignment, long-term. This wire will maintain the beautiful alignment of your teeth, preventing any relapse of your orthodontic results.  The retainer cannot be seen when talking or eating – no one will even know it’s there!

In addition, the current orthodontic research shows that teeth always continue to naturally shift as we age.  This occurs typically after age 30 or 40, regardless if teeth were previously well-aligned, either naturally or orthodontically. Unfortunately, it is not possible at this time to predict which individuals will be more susceptible to this aging process. Thus, a permanent retainer can offer long-term retention to counter the potential crowding associated with aging, as well as orthodontic relapse.

One minor drawback to permanent retainers is oral hygiene. With the retainer bonded to multiple teeth, additional attention is required to floss around and underneath the wire. However, we will provide you with ample tools and instructions to effectively clean your teeth and your retainer.

In our office, Dr. Chow prescribes a combination of both removable and permanent retainers, dependent on each patient’s treatment. For example, a removable retainer may be used for the top teeth and a permanent one for the lower ones. Ultimately, the most important thing to remember is that wearing your retainer as directed is extremely important to maintaining your beautiful smile.