Braces and clear aligners can give you the smile of your dreams, but keeping that smile is just as important as getting it. That’s where retainers come in! Retainers hold your teeth in place after your clear aligners or braces are removed, and they keep your smile straight and beautiful for years.
Did you know there are several types of retainers? Which retainer is right for you when it comes to permanent retainers vs. removable retainers?
Smith & Davis Orthodontics offers both permanent and removable retainers to our patients because we know one size doesn’t always fit all. Some patients prefer the “fix it and forget it” permanent retainers, while others want removable retainers. Which one is best for you? Let’s figure it out!
What Are the Types of Retainers?
There are three main types of retainers: the classic Hawley retainers, the clear aligner-style Essex retainers, and the permanent lingual retainers. Each has its own pros and cons.
Hawley Retainers
These are the most well-known retainers and are considered the “classic” wire retainers, even though their technology has improved over the years. They are made up of an acrylic base that is custom-molded to the roof of your mouth for the upper retainers and your gums and lower jaw for the bottom retainers. Wires fit into the acrylic and hold your teeth in place.
Hawley retainers are removable for easier cleaning and are long-known as effective retainers. You also must wear them for 22 hours a day for the first 3-6 months for them to be truly effective. How long do retainers last? Because they’re removable, they can be lost or damaged, so if well taken care of they will last you a long-time.
Essix Retainers
These clear acrylic retainers resemble clear aligners such as Invisalign. In fact, Invisalign has its own version of Essix retainers called Vivera retainers. Clear retainers are custom-fitted to your teeth. Instead of holding them in place with a wire, Essix retainers cover all of the teeth and hold them still while your jawbone sets properly over the next 6-12 months.
Clear retainers have the advantage of being removable for easy cleaning. However, they can be lost or damaged, and you can forget to wear them for a minimum of 22 hours a day.
Permanent Retainers
Permanent retainers are bonded to your front teeth and are not removable. These retainers are also called lingual retainers because they fit on the back side of the teeth or the tongue side. Usually, patients are given a permanent bottom retainer only, but some patients also get a permanent retainer on the top teeth, too. Unlike a removable retainer, bonded retainers are attached to the teeth with a special dental resin.
They can’t be lost, but there still can be issues. A patient can complain that the permanent retainer’s glue came off one tooth or that the permanent retainer broke.
In those cases, we would need to bring the patient in for repair or replacement of the permanent metal retainer. These instances are very rare, however. The permanent retainer metal wires and resin are very strong.
Removable Retainers Pros and Cons
Now that you know the different types of retainers, you’re probably wondering — if you’re going to get retainers after braces, which retainers should you get? Let’s do a deep dive into the pros and cons of the two main types of retainers: permanent vs. removable retainers. It may make it easier to decide which type is best for you.
Advantages of Removable Retainers
Removable retainers have the most obvious advantage — they’re removable! That means you can take them out to eat, brush, and floss. It also means you can take them out for a quick selfie or for a special event such as a wedding or family reunion.
Removable retainers make it much easier to clean your retainers and your teeth. They can be removed and cleaned using warm water and special retainer-cleaning tablets. While they’re soaking, you can brush and floss your teeth easily.
The other advantage is that after 6-12 months, you won’t have to wear your retainers as much per day. Often, you can reduce the time to just overnight. That means you get to show off that smile unencumbered during the day!
Disadvantages of Removable Retainers
Removable retainers can be lost or damaged if they’re removed and not stored properly. We’ve seen more than one patient roll their retainers in a napkin and accidentally toss them away at a restaurant. We’ve also seen patients bring in retainers that were chewed by a baby sibling or a pet. It’s vital to store your retainers in a protective storage case and in a safe place when they aren’t in your mouth so you don’t lose your retainer.
You also can forget to put your retainers back in your mouth after eating or brushing, cutting into the 22 hours you need to wear them daily. If your retainers aren’t worn at least 22 hours daily, your teeth could move out of place and back to their original positions.
That’s because your teeth have spent the last year or two moving, and it takes time for that to stop and your jaw to harden around your teeth roots. That’s why wearing your retainers are so critical for the first year after getting off your braces.
Permanent Retainers Pros and Cons
Permanent retainers for bottom and top teeth have their own pros and cons. Some people prefer permanent retainers because they don’t have to worry about taking them out and putting them back in throughout the day. But does that mean lingual retainers are right for you?
Advantages of Permanent Retainers
Lingual retainers are affixed to the back of the teeth, so they are very difficult for anyone to see. This means you can keep your teeth straight without anyone knowing you’re wearing retainers! Because they’re bonded to the teeth, you never have to worry about whether you’re wearing them enough each day.
You also don’t have to worry about losing them. It is possible to break them, but it’s very difficult to do so. So you have fewer concerns about losing or breaking them than with removable retainers.
Disadvantages of Permanent Retainers
Permanent retainers make it more difficult to brush and floss your teeth. As with braces, you will need to use floss threaders to get around the wire to floss properly.
How long do permanent retainers last? Though they’re called “permanent” retainers, they can wear out after a few years and will need to be replaced. Permanent retainers tend to last anywhere from 5-10 years before needing replacement.
Finally, permanent retainers can cause a temporary lisp while your tongue gets used to the wire. Most people get past the lisp after a few days or weeks. For those who have more difficulty with it, working with a speech therapist may be necessary.
Retainers and Retainer Replacement Near Me in Rogers, AR
The team at Smith & Davis Orthodontics knows getting the right retainers are a big decision. Rest assured, we will go over these pros and cons and more to help you decide which type of retainer will be best for you. We have years of experience fitting patients with the perfect retainer in Northwest Arkansas, and we can do the same for you! Schedule an appointment with us if you’d like more information about our retainers.
