Arlington & Saginaw Orthodontist Recommended Retention Methods

You’ve been counting down the days. It’s almost time to have your Arlington & Saginaw orthodontist remove your braces! That’s great news, but it comes with the need for a new appliance. At Studio Orthodontics, we want to introduce you to a critical phase in the tooth straightening process: retention.

Three Retention Methods

In order to keep your teeth permanently in place, you will need to wear a retainer. There are three types:

  1. Hawley Retainer – This is molded to the mouth in the shape of a tongue. An attached wire wraps around the front of the teeth to hold them in place. The Hawley retainer is durable and simple, and individuals can easily remove it to eat.
  2. Clear Plastic Retainer – This is similar to an Invisalign tray. It is made from a transparent plastic that is very thin, and wraps perfectly around the teeth. It’s not quite as durable as the Hawley, but can easily be removed when needed.
  3. Fixed Bonded Retainer – This is a wire that is actually bonded to the back of the teeth. It cannot be removed by the patient, and will remain in the mouth at least for many months, but generally longer.
    Note: The patient must be deemed clinically eligible to receive a fixed bonded retainer by the orthodontist before, during and at the end of treatment.

Adjusting, Maintaining, and Retaining

Adjusting to your new appliance doesn’t take too long. In just a few days, you may not have an issue with it. In many cases, extra saliva is produced while the retainer is in the mouth, but that is normal when the mouth feels a foreign object, and should only last a couple days. You can remove them to brush your teeth, and can even brush a Hawley retainer to keep it clean. A clear plastic retainer can be set in a denture cleaning solution each day.

Always keep your retainer case close at hand. Too often, patients wrap their retainer in a napkin while they eat, and forget about it. Slip the case into your purse, backpack, or even your pocket so you have it when you need it.

Learning More

If you’re interested in learning more about retention, contact Studio Orthodontics today. Give us a call in Arlington at 817-375-8899, in Saginaw at 817-847-9901, or by filling in our online contact form and we’ll be in touch.