Bonded Retainers and Clear Retainers

Everything You Need To Know About Bonded Retainers And Clear Retainers

Bonded retainers and clear retainers are among the main options orthodontists prescribe when it comes to keeping teeth in their new position after alignment. Naples Dental Boutique offers both bonded retainers and clear retainers. To find out more about these orthodontic appliances, continue reading below.

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What Are Bonded Retainers

As a result of growth-related factors affecting tissues of the periodontal ligament and gums, teeth can move back into their original positions after orthodontic treatment. As such, customized orthodontic appliances are used to keep teeth in their new position after treatment. This is where retainers come in. Dentists and orthodontists usually require patients to wear retainers every night for the rest of their lives; as a means of preventing the relapse of teeth to their original positions.

In a nutshell, a bonded retainer is a thin piece of wire bonded to the back of your teeth. This is done to keep teeth from moving out of position through growth, spacing, or shifting. These retainers also referred to as lingual wire or fixed retainers, are considered a permanent solution to preventing relapse and are designed to last a lifetime. Bonded retainers are designed to match your bite to keep them from interfering with chewing food.

The periodontal ligament, a network of stretchy fibers, attaches the teeth to the skull. Orthodontists normally recommend the use of bonded retainers to prevent relapsing. These retainers are designed to help change the structure of the gum and periodontal ligament over time, ensuring that teeth remain in their new position.

Pros Of Bonded Retainers

Bonded retainers are associated with several advantages, including:

  • They ensure that teeth remain aligned permanently. These retainers can remain in place for a lifetime. As such, they eliminate any issues associated with keeping up with requirements on when and how long to wear retainers.
  • Bonded retainers are hidden from view, remaining invisible to others.
  • These retainers are not damaged as easily.
  • It is not possible to lose or misplace fixed retainers.
  • These retainers do not have an impact on speech.

Cons Of Bonded Retainers

Some of the main drawbacks associated with bonded retainers include:

  • These retainers are attached to teeth, which some individuals may not be comfortable with. Furthermore, the attachment process may be long and uncomfortable.
  • The process of cleaning fixed retainers is more demanding. They can’t just be removed and soaked in a cleaning solution.
  • These retainers can make it harder for you to ensure proper dental hygiene, as they make it harder for you to brush and floss your teeth.
  • Bonded retainers can also be damaged by hard and sugary foods, which wreak havoc on the wire and bonding material.

What Are Clear Retainers?

Also referred to as molded retainers, clear retainers are made of a thin and transparent plate of plastic – perfectly molded to match the new position of your teeth. They normally resemble a mouthguard. The main purpose of these retainers is to make sure that your teeth remain in their new position, after treatment, in a discreet way. Unlike bonded retainers, these retainers can be removed when cleaning teeth or eating.

To ensure that your teeth adapt to their new position, your dental specialist will direct you to wear your clear retainers round the clock – day and night – immediately after treatment. Once your teeth have become accustomed to their new position, you may be required to wear the retainers for about 12 hours each day – mostly at night.

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Pros Of Clear Retainers

Some of the advantages of clear retainers include the following:

  • It comes with a better chance of preventing relapse, as you are more likely to wear it as prescribed because it is invisible.
  • Not as bulky as some other types of retainers.

Cons Of Clear Retainers

Clear retainers have a few significant drawbacks, including:

  • If your teeth require any alignment in the future, you will need to get a new clear retainer.
  • Exposure to heat can lead to warping.
  • These retainers can crack or get lost, necessitating replacement at an extra fee.
  • May have a bigger impact on your speech than bonded retainers.
  • Over time, they may become discolored and more visible.

Your Journey to a Beautiful Smile Begins at Naples Dental Boutique

When it comes to maintaining the results of your teeth alignment treatment, it is important to wear a retainer following your orthodontist’s instructions. After removing braces, all orthodontists will require you to wear some form of retainer, with bonded retainers and clear retainers being among the most common options.

Without the right retainer, you may be unable to preserve your investment in a teeth alignment treatment. Looking for the best retainers in Naples, Florida? Contact Naples Dental Boutique today!

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Bonded Retainers Clear Retainers

Bonded retainers are designed to last for decades/or a lifetime – especially considering that they cannot be removed at home. However, they can be damaged – a broken wire or detached bond. Fortunately, this damage can be easily fixed by your dentist.
Commonly installed on your front, four to six teeth, a bonded retainer is designed to keep your teeth fixed in position. The retainer is made up of a strong fiber or wire attached to your teeth using a special bonding material.
Yes. However, you will need to avoid biting into any hard, sticky, or chewy foods, such as apples, frozen food, candy bars, and pears, among others, with your front teeth – because the retainers are attached to these teeth like braces. Biting into hard foods can damage the retainer wire or bonds to the teeth.

In addition to ensuring that teeth retain their alignment improvements after treatment, bonded retainers also help ensure that teeth do not move back to their original position for an extended period.

Simply put, these retainers are designed to be used by people whose teeth are at risk of moving out of alignment.

For starters, a bonded retainer can cause dental hygiene issues, as its presence in the mouth makes it harder to properly clean teeth. This orthodontic appliance can lead to the accumulation of plaque. As such, you need to visit your dentist regularly to have the bonded retainer checked and professionally cleaned, where necessary.
In rare cases, the growth or shifting of the jaw bone can leave a bonded retainer out of position. This simply means that the retainer will no longer fit perfectly.
You may also experience pain and discomfort in the teeth on which the retainer is attached and/or along the jaw if your teeth start shifting with the retainer in place.

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