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.
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.
Bonded retainers are associated with several advantages, including:
Some of the main drawbacks associated with bonded retainers include:
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.
Some of the advantages of clear retainers include the following:
Clear retainers have a few significant drawbacks, including:
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!
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.