Oral Orthopedics treatment doesn’t stop when dental braces are removed, although it is the ultimate goal of many patients.
Remembering retainers are a critical aspect of keeping your teeth straight after treatment is essential. Such custom-made retainers are unique in maintaining the repositioned teeth in their new position so they do not shift back. Selecting the appropriate type of retainer is very important to get a better result for a long time.
So, let’s consider what kinds of retainers are: removable – Hawley and clear retainers, and fixed ones, including bonded retainers. We will also discuss the advantages of each type for refining the chosen one for your life. Finally, we will discuss the general price range for each retainer.
What Are Retainers?
Retainers are made from orthodontic materials and tend to be used to maintain proper teeth alignment after being treated with braces. They have a tight, clean fit around or in front of the teeth, not allowing them to shift in the wrong direction. There is also a classification in retainers: removable or fixed. However, they all follow their specific role of keeping the teeth properly aligned.
They are typically constructed from materials like plastic or metallic intended to fit each individual’s dental formation. Compared with the dental crowns and dental veneers used to repair broken teeth, retainers only maintain the new position of straightened teeth after orthodontic work.
Why Are Retainers Used After Braces?
After the treatment, orthodontic retainers involving braces are essential since the teeth can return to their irrational position. When wearing braces, people must go through the orthodontist’s removal process. However, the teeth are not fixed permanently and may shift within the first few months after removing the braces.
After dental braces treatment, patients are advised to wear retainers because they secure the teeth. At the same time, the tissue is being reconstructed, making these essential for a flawless makeover.
Retainers are helpful to preserve the achieved outcomes and the money spent on braces and having them on full-time. Otherwise, the time and money taken on dental braces could be reversed since the teeth naturally tend to return to their previous positions.
Using retainers is essential for the young patient because their jaws and teeth are not fully developed and can shift quickly. Adults also need retainers as slow changes may develop over time due to pressure from chewing throughout the day.
Patients are therefore recommended to follow the retainer schedule. This leads to avoiding other corrective treatments, saving time and money.
Different Types of Retainers for Teeth
There are many types of retainers based on the direction in which they keep the teeth aligned. It depends on the patient’s lifestyle, desired comfort level, and orthodontic requirements. We will discuss how different retainers work for your post-orthodontic treatment smile.
1. Hawley Retainers
Hawley retainers are more conventional and include a firm acrylic base on which the upper palate rests with a thin metal ‘wire’ across the anterior teeth. The wire can also be changed to achieve this better fit, making Hawley retainers strong and all-around.
Benefits: Hawley retainers are more comfortable to wear, easy to clean, easily adjusted to fit the patient’s dental model, and have a longer service duration. They enable the upper and lower jaw to meet in harmony without any hindrance by the dental structure.
Price in Pakistan: 5,000 – 15, 000 PKR per arch
2. Clear Plastic Retainers
There are many types of retainers, including clear plastic retainers – also known as Essix retainers. They are thin, clear trays that fit perfectly after your dental braces come off. It’s like a whole row of teeth, like clear aligners. They are hardly noticeable, and for anyone who does not wish to be seen using any form of hearing help, these are some of the best for the business.
Benefits: These retainers are hardly shown and fit very well. They especially appeal to people who would like to have a discreet retainer.
Price in Pakistan: 5,000 – 20,000 PKR
3. Bonded Retainers (Fixed Retainers)
Retainers are cemented, or’ permanent’ retainers, affixed directly to the back of the front teeth through a special dental cement. These types of retainers are commonly advice for lower front teeth since shifting or moving is usually likely to occur.
Benefits: Fixed retainers remain in the patients’ mouths all the time; hence, they do not require removal or replacement often. It’s important to wear retainers at all times, and these are perfect for those who easily misplace or lose their removable retainers.
Price in Pakistan: 15,000 – 30,000 PKR
4. Vivera Retainers
Vivera retainers are clear retainers by Invisalign which come as a sequence of three, meaning that each set is more straightforward to swap out. Constructed from a strong material, they are comfortable to wear and retain well, better than most clear retainers.
Benefits: Here, Vivera retainers are stable, comfy, and typically more effective for those who reject the standard clear retainers for a shorter time and begin with the more durable solution. The set of four retainers guarantees that patients will always have a spare.
Cost: 1,00,000 – 4,00,000 PKR
Benefits of Retainers with Costs
Regarding their functionality, retainers are crucial to align teeth after braces treatment. Below is the breakdown of the benefits of various retainers and the approximate costs of each of the retainers.
1. Prevents Teeth from Shifting
The importance of retainers is to hold and align teeth, especially after braces have been fixed on the teeth. People’s teeth shift as they age; retainers offer the necessary support to avoid this. It maintains the proper position of the smile to minimize or eradicate the possibility of going back for orthodontics treatment.
2. Supports Jaw Alignment
Many retainers help align the jaw and set it in the correct position. Retainers fix these positions better because they act to eliminate forces such as misalignment forces.
3. Easier to Clean and Maintain
Retainers can be easily maintained, and cleaning them for removable ones is very easy. While braces, for example, appear brilliant as they can entrap food and plaque, removable retainers can be cleaned thoroughly daily. This enhances good oral health and helps avoid conditions such as gingivitis or cavities.
4. Durable Outcomes with Maintenance
When taken proper care of, retainers can always be used for years. Fixed retainers are incredibly convenient as they do not need to be used daily and offer constant support. For people who use removable retainers, their results are long-lasting depending on how they wear and the regular cleaning.
5. Cost-Savings Over Time
There is wisdom in going for a retainer after braces since it will be cheaper than getting one after some time. Retainers are therefore important because they ensure the teeth do not shift back thus needing to wear braces or aligners again. This is particularly helpful when planning a cosmetics procedure such as veneer placement that needs teeth to be stable.
Retainers: A Cost-Effective Solution
However, retainers are easy to identify since they initially ask you to pay a specific amount. Still, they will always benefit you in that you will use them to maintain both alignment and your investment in braces.
If you pick the suitable retainer, your teeth will remain aligned, and you will not need other procedures.
In addition, if you are looking forward to a dental treatment, visit SmileOn today! They have all dental treatment, including dental veneers, dental bridges, dental crowns, implants, teeth whitening treatment, and much more.
Give your teeth the best treatment they deserve!
Dentists specialize in various branches to offer a wider range of oral health services. In a nutshell, various dental health Read more
White spots on teeth are a common dental problem and many people lose their confidence to smile due to this. Read more