Kinds of retainer

A retainer is an appliance that resists the small forces that can move teeth after braces or aligners. Removable retainers are usually clear thermoplastic shells or acrylic plates with a wire; fixed retainers are thin wires bonded to the tongue-side surfaces of selected teeth.

Use the design and wearing schedule prescribed after checking your bite and the stability of each tooth. Clean a removable retainer with cool water and a soft brush, keep it in its case when it is out, and do not bend a fixed wire or use hot water on a plastic appliance.

Arrange a dental review if a retainer cracks, warps, feels sharp, no longer fits, or has detached from a tooth. Prompt care is also appropriate when teeth begin to rotate, a wire irritates the tongue, or the appliance causes a new bite contact.

Ask which teeth need retention, whether a fixed, removable, or combined design suits your bite, and how often it should be worn. Ask how the retainer will be checked, cleaned, repaired, or replaced if its fit changes.