Many people assume that once the braces come off, the teeth stay put for good. They do not. Teeth can move back if you do not wear your retainer as I ask.
Why teeth move after braces
During treatment, braces or aligners gradually push each tooth through the bone, and the fibers that anchor the root stretch to the new position. When the appliance comes off, those tissues have not finished adjusting and will pull the teeth back if nothing holds them; the lower front teeth crowd again most easily. And everyone's teeth shift a little with age, braces or not.
So the retainer's job is to hold your teeth in the position I have set, and I plan for it from day one.
How many types are there?
Three are in common use.
1. Clear retainer. A thin, transparent plastic tray formed over your teeth. Almost invisible, easy to take in and out, and you speak clearly with it. Invisalign patients often prefer it because it feels familiar. The plastic wears with time; if you grind your teeth at night it can crack early, so it needs replacing more often than the other types.
2. Hawley retainer. An acrylic base with a thin wire across the front of the teeth. Removable, strong and hard-wearing, and I can adjust the wire if a tooth needs a small nudge. The base comes in the color you choose. The limitation is that the wire shows during the day.
3. Fixed retainer. A fine wire bonded behind the front teeth, which I use in some cases. Invisible from the outside, and nothing to remember. But it needs diligent cleaning: floss threaded under the wire or an interdental brush, and I check at every visit that the bonded points are still secure.
In some cases I combine two, for example a fixed wire behind the lower front teeth plus a clear retainer over the top at night.
Which retainer should you choose?
None suits everyone, so I always go through this before the braces come off, looking at your teeth, your plan and real life:
- Forgetful, and not sure you will wear it every night? A fixed wire takes the decision out of your hands.
- Grind your teeth at night? Clear plastic wears through quickly; a Hawley or a fixed wire holds up better.
- Not yet confident with floss? A fixed retainer needs good hygiene behind the front teeth; removable is kinder to your gums.
Severe crowding, rotated teeth and gaps that have been closed are more likely to relapse, and I usually suggest firmer retention for those.
How long do you wear a retainer?
My rule is simple. For the first period after the braces come off, wear your removable retainer day and night, taking it out only to eat and to clean your teeth. After that, nights only. I will tell you how long each stage lasts and how often to wear it; some cases need regular long-term wear. And do not stop on your own, even if your teeth still look straight to you.
At the clinic I scan your teeth with a digital scanner rather than taking impressions. On the day the braces come off, I scan and in most cases fit your retainer the same day, whichever type you choose, so there is no gap in which the teeth can start to move.
Looking after a retainer
- Rinse it in cool water each time you take it out and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush. Skip toothpaste, which scratches clear plastic; mild soap is fine.
- Never use hot water. It warps clear retainers and they stop fitting.
- Keep it in its case whenever it is out. Retainers wrapped in a tissue get thrown away.
- Seat it with your fingers, never by biting it into place.
- With a fixed retainer, floss under the wire daily and avoid biting hard things directly with your front teeth.
- Bring it to every check-up so I can look at wear and fit.
If it is lost, broken or no longer fits
If your retainer is lost, broken or damaged, or it no longer fits snugly or feels unusually loose, contact the clinic and come in so I can check it. Do not force a warped or damaged retainer into place; it can harm your teeth and the soft tissue in your mouth. If the retainer is lost and your teeth have not moved, I can make a new one from your stored scan file; if they have moved, I rescan first.
Retainer prices are quoted at your consultation; they depend on the type and the case.
A retainer that fills a gap
The one people asked about after my reel. If you are missing a tooth, whether it was extracted before treatment, lost in an accident or never developed, a removable retainer can carry a replacement tooth on the appliance itself. It can be made on either the clear or the Hawley type, depending on the case. I shape and color the tooth to blend with the neighboring teeth. The replacement tooth is charged separately, per tooth, and I quote it at your consultation.
It is a temporary solution for the wait before a dental implant or a bridge, for example while the bone heals after an extraction, or for a younger patient whose jaw has to finish growing first. The retainer holds the space and stops the neighboring teeth tipping in, but it is not designed for chewing hard food. If this is you, tell me before the braces come off so I can design it in from the start.
Book a consultation
If your braces are about to come off, or your old retainer has been missing so long that you are not sure whether your teeth have moved, come in and let me take a look first.
I will examine your teeth, talk through the retainer options that suit you, and give you the details and the price before you decide. Hawley, clear or fixed, I will help you choose one that fits your teeth and your daily life.
Booking is easy: message me on LINE or call 098 831 0246. The clinic is open daily 10:00–20:00 (closed Tuesdays), at Venice Di Iris, Vacharapol Road, Bang Khen.