At the end of your orthodontic treatment, when the braces are removed, your teeth have a natural tendency to crowd again. This is a normal part of ageing, and things may start shifting back to their original positions or even new positions. Therefore, it is very important you wear your retainers after orthodontic treatment to keep your smile beautiful! Our Dentist would advise you the suitable retainers in your case and also give you all the options available with their pros and cons.
Retainers are devices which hold your teeth in their corrected positions. There are generally two types of retainers: removable and bonded.
Removable retainers:
Hawley Retainer
This is an acrylic plate with three wire segments. It is firm and steady and good for maintaining any expansion of the jaw that was done with a rapid maxillary expander (RME).
Begg Retainer
This is also an acrylic plate but with one wire segment that wraps around all the teeth. It allows good ‘settling’ or meshing of the teeth into the bite after the braces are removed. You can take it in and out and choose different colours!
Truform
This is a clear upper retainer that is almost invisible. Truform retainers are comfortable and aesthetic. It is important they are removed using TWO fingers, one on either side to ‘flick’ it down. If pulled out from just one side they are prone to cracking in the center! Cleaning is very important. We recommend gentle brushing of the retainer using liquid soap and water. Avoid toothpaste as it can cause the retainer to go cloudy. If it starts to stain we recommend soaking it in a solution of part vinegar and part water to dissolve any tartar build-up.
Like shoes, Truform retainers wear out after time, so you may need to get them replaced every few years.