Should you wear retainers after braces? What is better to wear after braces mouthguards or retainers? What is put after braces for fixing.

Treatment by an orthodontist often involves a rather lengthy process. In this case, it is in adults and children, or a change in bite, as a result of which the teeth are displaced in bone tissue. There are also changes in the masticatory muscles and joints, which get used to new sensations and movement patterns.

Bone growth occurs very slowly, much longer than the time needed to correct the bite. In order for the teeth to fix without problems in a new position for them, and a strong one has grown around them and a retainer is installed.

It is fixed by an experienced specialist in the required place. The doctor conducts a thorough examination of the patient to see in what position the teeth should be fixed, evaluates the effect of orthodontic intervention, as well as in what position the teeth are now and in which it is better to strengthen them.

The big advantage of such a device is that it is installed on the inside of the dentition and no one except the person wearing them will notice it. Before installing the structure, the patient must undergo a thorough examination by a dentist.

Varieties of retainers

There are two types of retainers that are placed on the teeth:

removable, production material - plastic alloys;
fixed - made of metal.

Fixed design

A fixed retainer in its appearance resembles a metal wire, which has a rigid and durable structure. It is installed on the back surface of the teeth using special composite materials. In order to firmly fix the retainer, the use of grooves is not necessary, because it is held on a special glue.

A fixed retainer begins to be installed on a person immediately, as soon as the braces are removed, in rare cases- at the last stage of their use. It is very quickly addictive, and after a week the patient does not feel it in the oral cavity.

Before installing fixed retainers, the doctor carefully cleans the teeth from the formed stones and plaque, and only after these procedures glues them. When talking, others will not notice them in the oral cavity, because they are on the inside of the teeth.

Design Benefits

This type of retainer does its job well, but the full effectiveness of their use depends entirely on the patient. They are always in their place, and you don't have to worry about losing them. But sometimes it can happen that they will have to be worn throughout life. Peculiarities:

They act on the tooth throughout the day.
No discomfort is felt while wearing them.
The patient quickly gets used to the new design.
Invisible to the surrounding people.

Flaws

Fixed retainers cause great discomfort when brushing your teeth, because it is a little difficult. It is necessary to get used to this matter, and if this procedure is performed poorly, a large accumulation of plaque and tartar is possible. This is fraught with the fact that gum disease can begin.

It is necessary to be under the constant supervision of a doctor.
Sometimes it happens that the device can peel off.
Some difficulties in carrying out hygiene procedures.

Detachable design

Removable retainers are special plastic caps that are transparent or opaque. The doctor puts them on the upper and lower row of teeth. Sometimes a special metal wire is embedded in a transparent cap. This two-jaw type of retainers is designed to be worn simultaneously, they are recommended to be used only at night and in a certain period. There is also a single jaw type, which can be installed both on a permanent basis and on a temporary basis.

The removable retainer is very easy to care for and does not take much time. Cleaning takes place with a special toothbrush and paste, and then you need to rinse it well under running water.

In rare cases, the patient is given two types of retainers at once: a removable one is installed on one jaw, and a non-removable one is installed on the second.

Advantages

This type of retainer is very easy to use and clean, and has the following advantages:

Easily washes and is cleared of pollution.
Many people experience some kind of shock from the constant wearing of braces, and after them - from a special fixing structure, but removable retainers provide an opportunity to sometimes take a break from using them.

Design flaws

They are noticeable while being worn by people around, which makes them look unaesthetic.
Because of their wearing, a person’s speech is often disturbed.
Because of the constant presence foreign body saliva accumulates in the oral cavity.
The plastic base of the structure can cause irritation.

What effect does a retainer have on teeth?

When a person uses braces to correct an overbite, there is a complete movement of the teeth in different directions. Along with this, the bone tissue, blood vessels and other tissues that are located around the problem tooth are rebuilt.

When the doctor removes the braces, the force on the tooth ceases to occur, but if nothing else is installed, then they and the surrounding bone tissues will try to return to their original state. If nothing is done, then all the results obtained will be completely canceled.

The retainer for teeth helps to securely hold the teeth in a new place and helps to fully consolidate the result.

Installing retainers

After the doctor removes the braces, he cleans the oral cavity and examines it for the presence of various diseases. If they are, then you must first cure them and only then install them.

Since the design is installed for a long period of time, the doctor treats the surface of the teeth with a special substance for better adhesion to the enamel. After that, the retainer is attached with glue. This applies to a fixed structure, and for a removable model, an impression is made from the jaw in the form of a plastic cap and metal arches and is installed on the dentition.

Duration of use of retainers

Retainer - what is it? How long to wear it? These questions are of interest to many people who need help correcting their bite. We have already answered the first of them in detail. As for the period of use, it completely depends on the type of construction and the complexity of the problem with which the patient went to the doctor. The more crooked teeth a person has, the longer it will take to use it. In especially severe cases, the patient can use retainers throughout his life.

Bite correction generally lasts for two years. If the patient used braces for two years, then he was put on retainers, how much to wear them - the doctor will determine exactly. This usually takes about four years. After the teeth have been completely aligned, wearing any additional devices is essential to keep them from returning to their original state.

Proper care

During the use of braces, a person gets used to the fact that special care is needed for the oral cavity. Each type of device should be carefully looked after:

When installing fixed appliances, oral care becomes a little more complicated, and additional devices must be used for this procedure. This must be done so that plaque does not accumulate.
Removable appliances are a bit easier to clean and should be done with a brush and soap. After eating, they must be removed and placed in a specially designed box. Periodically, such devices must be soaked in a special solution, after which they must be rinsed with warm water before being installed in oral cavity.
It is imperative to use special rinse aids so that in hard-to-reach places there is maximum cleansing.
With long-term wearing of structures, it is necessary to come to the dentistry for professional cleaning every six months.

The cost of manufacturing and installing retainers

In order for the alignment of teeth in adults to be successful, it is necessary to use a really high-quality design, and the coordinated work of a dental technician and an orthodontist is required to create it.

The manufacture of one plate will cost 4 thousand rubles, and in total they need two pieces - one for the top, and the second for lower jaw.

Remove braces, install retainers - it will cost, depending on the selected clinic, in the region of 1500-3500 thousand rubles. In private dentistry, the price will be much higher, but there the patient will be given a guarantee of quality for a long period and they will continue to accompany and serve the client.

If you need to fix retainers, the price of the procedure will be about 500 rubles per tooth. In this case, it is necessary to take into account that both the lower and upper row and each tooth, respectively, will be strengthened.

In many private clinics, silicone splinting can be offered to the client, because it is more reliable and will not scratch the tongue, unlike wire. But the price of such a service will be much higher.

Dental practice uses many different ways to fix teeth, but retainers are the most common because of their convenience. Only they are able to securely fix the teeth in the required position after removing the braces.

So, retainer - what is it? This is a unique chance for every person to make their smile even and beautiful. After using it, you no longer have to hide your smile due to or incorrect bite. If you follow all the recommendations of doctors and follow the basic rules for operation, you can get incredible results, you just need a little patience and endurance.

The use of retainers will help to effectively consolidate the result obtained after wearing braces, after which the dentition will remain in the new position forever. This is a beautiful design that gives everyone the opportunity to smile widely.

When the braces are removed, the teeth and surrounding tissues tend to take their usual position. To avoid this, retainers were invented - they fix the result of the impact of braces on the bite.

How do retainers work?

They do not allow the teeth to "part" again, keeping them in the correct position. Compared to braces, they are lighter devices that you wear around the clock at first and then less and less, allowing your teeth and jaw to gradually "get used" to the new bite and fix it.

How many to wear?

In most cases, you can focus on the period of wearing braces: the fixing period of time will take about 2 times more (approximately 3-6 years).

There are also exceptions. Some people who decide to correct their bite after 25-30 years will have to wear them for life.

Wean from retainers gradually:

In the beginning, you wear it all the time.
Then wear only at night.
Then through the night, etc., until the results of treatment are fully fixed.

In any case, you should not give up retention structures ahead of time so that all the years of wearing braces are not in vain.

Types of retainers after braces

Removable retainers - it's simple

This is a transparent mouthguard made of polymeric materials, or a plastic plate with metal arcs, which you can easily take off and put on by yourself. It is very easy to take care of her and the oral cavity.

However, there are also inconveniences:

long-term addiction (at first there is abundant salivation, speech disorders, periodontal irritation);
possible allergy to plastic;
unaesthetic appearance.

Removable teeth retainers

Advantages and disadvantages of fixed devices

Outwardly, they resemble lingual braces. This is a metal arch that is attached to the inside of the teeth using composite materials.

The fixed view has two significant advantages:

it is easy and quick to get used to the wire retainer,
the device is invisible to others.

Of the minuses, we note the higher cost compared to removable ones, the need for careful and careful oral hygiene, as well as constant monitoring by the dentist.

How is the installation and removal of the retainer

You can remove and put on the plate or mouthguard yourself, the dentist will comment and show it only once.

Installation steps for fixed retainers:

preparation of the oral cavity (plaque removal, caries treatment, enamel mineralization);
taking a cast of the jaw and making a retention apparatus in accordance with it;
fixing the finished bus-wire with composite materials.

Retainers can only be removed at the dentist's office. Usually it is cut down with boron. It is painless and harmless. After the procedure, refrain from hot or too cold food, sour and hard (nuts, crackers, etc.).

Which is better: mouthguards or retainers?

The optimal option is chosen by the attending physician, taking into account malocclusion, the course of preliminary orthodontic therapy and individual characteristics.

The dentist may advise you to put a removable structure on one jaw and a non-removable one on the other. Or, an arc of metal wire is initially placed, and after a while it is replaced by a kappa or a plate for occasional wear. So it will be more convenient for you, and the effectiveness of the retention period will be higher.

Frequently asked questions about wearing retainers

How to brush your teeth with a fixed retainer?

To avoid plaque and caries:

Use dental floss and irrigator.
Have you eaten? – Rinse your mouth, preferably with fluoridated liquid.
Don't forget about professional teeth cleaning in the dentist's chair.

How to care for a removable retainer?

remove it before meals and store in an orthodontic box;
twice a day, place in a special solution for disinfection;
Rinse with water before putting on.

What to do if the retainer is broken or peeled off?

Contact your orthodontist.

Sometimes an outside specialist who is unfamiliar with your treatment plan can be harmful.

The detached part is fixed with a composite. In the event of a breakdown, if it is insignificant, it is not necessary to completely change the retainer. During the repair, the patient wears a mouthguard or plate.

Can an MRI be done?

Yes, you can. The presence of a retainer in the oral cavity will not affect the results of the study. However, it is still worth warning a specialist about it.

Removable retainer care

Issue price

As a rule, retainers, their installation and removal, as well as supervision by a specialist are included in the cost of the entire course of braces treatment. It is profitable and convenient.

If these services are paid separately, then the average prices are as follows:

a fixed retainer will cost from 6,000 rubles. (per jaw)
removable - from 2,000 rubles,
fixing on average costs from 3,000 rubles.

A prerequisite for successful bite correction is the implementation of the recommendations of an orthodontist. Choose the best orthodontists with our service!

Often, after removing the braces, the joyful patient thinks that there is no need to wear anything after the braces, the treatment has already been completed and his torment is over. But that was not the case: all orthodontists know that treatment is not limited to braces alone - the result must be fixed. The fact is that after a period of wearing braces, if you do not use a special orthodontic appliance, then the teeth can return to their original position and all the work with wearing braces will go down the drain. And what to wear after braces, this article will tell you.

What to wear after removing braces to consolidate the result?

There are two types of orthodontic appliances that will help you maintain the position of your teeth after braces are removed - retainers and caps.

retainer

A retainer is a device that allows you to keep the result of orthodontic treatment. It is placed to prevent the teeth from returning to their original position. Many orthodontists recommend fixing corrected teeth with retainers. Usually, that after braces you will need to wear a retention apparatus, the orthodontist warns even when installing the braces.

Retainers are of two types:

removable retention apparatus
removable retention apparatus.

Often, retainers are installed on the same day that the braces are removed. This is due to the fact that the teeth can very quickly return to the position that they were before the treatment. To avoid such unpleasant situations, fixing devices are installed as soon as possible after the completion of braces treatment.

Fixed retention apparatus

most often installed on the lingual or palatal surface of the teeth. Preferably it is installed on the lower jaw. One of the significant disadvantages of this design is the high damage. For example, if a fixed retainer is placed on the palatal surface upper jaw, then it may well break off or come off (it's all the fault of constant contact with the lower teeth).

Removable retention apparatus

The second name for a removable retention apparatus is a plate. Orthodontists recommend putting it on at night, but it depends on the characteristics of the corrected teeth - a certain complex can be prescribed. After removing the braces, the orthodontist puts the plate on the patient's teeth and conducts training on how to care for the removable retainer.

A little about the advantages and disadvantages of a fixed retainer:

The retention apparatus is not removable. You won't forget to put it on, because structure attached

The retainer is practically invisible on the teeth, because. it attaches from the inside.

For people who may forget to wear a removable construction at night

- Complications in caring for oral hygiene

- avoiding the use of certain products that can contribute to breakage or peeling of the retention apparatus

- in case of breakage or peeling off of a fixed retainer, it is necessary to restore it in a short time, otherwise the teeth may return to their original position.

— Immediate repair of the device is not always possible

Now the advantages and disadvantages of a removable device:

Worn only at night. Therefore, it breaks less often.

Doesn't interfere with oral hygiene

Does not restrict your diet

- many people forget to wear a removable retainer at night or take it with them if they go somewhere

Sometimes people have psychological barriers. They just took off one plate - and put on another one again. But there is nothing to be ashamed of, because removable retainers are worn only at night. Fixed braces are almost invisible on the teeth.

Nevertheless, many people are worried about how long to wear retainers after braces?

Orthodontists usually say that the period of wearing retainers is the period of wearing braces, multiplied by two. For example, if you wore braces for 1 year and 5 months, then retainers should be worn for 2 years and 10 months.

But even with this there are small difficulties, since each organism is individual. Therefore, doctors usually determine how long to wear retainers after braces according to the following criteria:

patient's age
complexity of the case (bite pathology, etc.)
number of teeth removed from the patient
features of the patient's body, etc.

It turns out that, on average, retainers should be worn for about three years.

The second type of orthodontic appliances are caps (caps).

What kind of device is a dental cap?

Dental caps are a removable device. Their difference from non-removable retainers:

They are worn not constantly, but at a specific time.
They are easily removed from the teeth, so they do not interfere with the care of oral hygiene.
Mouthguards do not cause allergic reactions.

How long to wear mouthguards after removing braces?

Through research, orthodontists have determined the interval for how long to wear mouthguards after braces. The most optimal period for wearing caps is the period of wearing braces. In other words, you have been wearing a bracket system for 1 year, so you should wear a mouth guard for about 1 year.

There are many factors that can affect how long you need to wear mouthguards after braces.

Here is a list of these factors:

patient's age;
the degree of complexity of the correction;
bite type.

It is worth remembering that each case is individual. How long you need to wear a mouthguard after braces, you should only appoint your orthodontist!

May you always have a beautiful smile!

Most orthodontist patients think that after removing the braces, you can forever forget about the wrong bite or crooked teeth and enjoy a new chic smile.

Therefore, for many patients, it becomes an unpleasant surprise to learn that on the same day that the teeth were released from the bracket system, a new design called retainer will take her place.

At an early stage, when the treatment with bracket systems was just developing, orthodontists believed that after the completion of the correction and removal of the structure, the teeth would forever remain in a new, ideal position. Unfortunately, after a few months or years, most patients complained that after removing the braces, the teeth gradually changed their position, and sometimes even returned to their original position, as before the treatment. Many patients had to put on braces again and wear them for several more years. This was especially true for people whose age at the time of correction was 20 years and above; in children, relapses were observed much less frequently.

It turned out that the reason lies in the structure of the teeth. There are many blood vessels and ligaments between the tooth and the jaw bone. The bracket under the action of the arc pulls the tooth to a new place, stretching the ligaments and blood vessels. The bone surrounding the tooth is also gradually changing: on the one hand, it slowly decreases, and on the other, it grows. The older the patient, the longer it takes for bone tissue to change, because after 30 years it is stronger and denser.

After the system is removed, no more force affects the tooth, bone, vessels and ligaments, so they begin to return to the places they occupied before treatment. It is precisely for this to keep your teeth from crooked again, and need retainers after braces. Retainers are special orthodontic structures that make it possible to fully fix the result of the correction.

There are two types of retainers - fixed and removable. The first installs and removes only the orthodontist, the patient himself will not be able to do this. And the second can be worn on its own and worn for as long as the doctor indicates.

To better understand what kind of structure the structure will look like after installation, you can ask your orthodontist to show retainers after braces.

Removable retainers are of several types:

Plastic transparent caps
metal arc
Plate

Removable retainers can only be worn by the patient at night or during the day, it depends only on the instructions of the doctor. In any case, it is impossible to eat with such a design, therefore, if the patient must wear a retainer during the day, he needs to have a special box with him, where the retainer can be folded during meals.

Removable riders

Probably, plastic cap has the most aesthetic appearance among all removable retainers. This can be seen by looking at the photos of patients who wear mouthguards. The product is completely transparent and is not visible to others during a conversation. Unfortunately, a mouth guard, like all removable retainers, can affect diction and must be removed during meals.

If the orthodontist allows the patient to wear a mouthguard exclusively at night, then wearing it for a very long time will not cause any discomfort and may remain a secret even for those closest to you.

Fixed retainers after braces are a metal arc. Immediately after removing the braces the doctor puts a fixed retainer on the inside of the tooth. We can say that the installation process is almost the same as for lingual braces. Of course, first the doctor must make sure that during the time of wearing braces, the patient did not develop carious lesions that need to be treated. If there is no need to treat caries, the doctor will professional cleaning teeth to the patient, if necessary, removes tartar and proceeds with the installation of a fixed retainer.

The orthodontist treats the enamel with a special tool that improves the adhesion of the teeth to the composite adhesive. The process is very fast and completely painless. Usually a person who has worn braces for a long time and is used to them does not experience the slightest discomfort from the installation of a fixed retainer.

Unfortunately, the patient's opinion is not taken into account when choosing a retainer. This is decided only by the orthodontist, based on the age of the patient, the condition of his teeth and many other factors that the client, having no special education, does not even suspect. However, it is better to learn about the shortcomings of fixed and removable structures in advance.

Disadvantages of removable retainers:

All removable retainers, with the exception of the cap, are highly visible to others, and this makes the smile unaesthetic
Wearing a removable retainer is more likely to cause increased salivation
Influence a person's diction
May cause irritation
While using this design, you can’t eat, which means that every time you visit a restaurant or cafe, you need to retire in order to remove such a retainer and rinse your mouth. You always need to have a case with you, where you can hide a cap or plate.
It is necessary to carefully monitor the cleanliness of this structure.

The advantages of wearing a removable design include ease of use.

Disadvantages of fixed retainers:

The orthodontist should monitor the condition of this structure from time to time.
There are times when such a device peels off, in such a situation it is necessary to immediately visit your orthodontist.

Perhaps this is where all the shortcomings of fixed retainers end. Some of the inconveniences include the need for more thorough hygiene.

The advantages of a fixed design can be safely attributed to its complete invisibility to others. The patient quickly gets used to it, and even if at the initial stages of wearing it can cause some discomfort and affect diction, then within a week it all goes away. Over time, the patient himself can forget about this device in his mouth, since the retainer is almost imperceptible.

That, how long to wear retainers after braces the doctor decides and these recommendations will have to be strictly followed. Otherwise, already a few months after removing the braces, you can find that the teeth return to their original places.

Some patients who are over 20 years old at the time of bite correction are surprised to learn that they will have to wear fixed retainers for the rest of their lives. You should not be afraid of this, since such structures not only do not interfere with a normal lifestyle, but also do not bear any negative consequences for the tooth. After all, no one is afraid to put and wear fillings, which can also stand for a lifetime, unless, of course, they fall out.

The only thing that can be recommended to a person who wears such a non-removable design is to more carefully monitor oral hygiene. Although any patient who has undergone more than a year with braces, most likely, and so learned and used to do it.

As for removable retainers, the orthodontist will always give clear instructions on when and how much to wear them. Most likely, in the early stages, a mouth guard or plate will need to be worn throughout the day every day and even at night. Over time, the terms of wearing these designs can be reduced and gradually reduced to nothing.

It is possible that the orthodontist will recommend two types of retainer - fixed and, for example, a mouth guard, which the patient will wear every night. This combination is perhaps the most successful, as it allows you to firmly fix the result of treatment and at the same time has the most aesthetic appearance.

Even if the patient is not shown wearing a retainer for life, it is impossible to say in advance how long it will be worn. Most often, this design will need to be worn twice as long as the treatment with the bracket system lasted. That is, if the patient wore braces for 2 years, then they will have to wear a retainer for at least 4 years.

How to properly care for the retention apparatus?

A fixed appliance does not require any special care - it is necessary to perform hygiene procedures a little more carefully and do not forget about dental floss.

Removable structures require more careful maintenance and special storage boxes.

Before putting on a mouthguard or a plate, you need to rinse your mouth, and even better, brush your teeth. Rinse the design under warm water and can be put on.

After removing the cap, it must be cleaned with a brush with a special paste, and then wiped with chlorhexidine and can be stored in a box.

In no case should you rinse a cap or a plate in boiling water, dry it on a radiator. High temperatures damage the product and you will have to order a new one, which, of course, will not be free.

It is categorically not recommended to avoid wearing retainers, otherwise you can get back the full result that the patient had before the treatment and not only money, but time will be wasted.

Braces are a salvation for those who are dissatisfied with the state of their smile. With this system it is possible to align the dentition, although this process is slow and can take years. Those who have never experienced the procedure do not suspect that after braces, the patient is given retainers - a “fixing” period begins.

What is a retainer and what is it for?

Orthodontic retainers are a special dental device designed to maintain the bite in the desired position. The most high-quality and effectively installed bracket system may not bring the desired result if it is not additionally fixed.

Bracket construction alone is not enough to correct the bite. Its main task is to change the position of hard and soft tissues, ligaments, blood vessels adjacent directly to the tooth, and after its removal, the achieved result is maintained using dental retainers. If you do not do this, the positive effect of wearing braces will gradually come to naught, the teeth will eventually again take the position prepared for them by nature.

Types of structures and their differences

Retainers are placed immediately after braces are removed. Previously, the doctor examines the teeth for the formation of caries and other diseases that occur due to insufficient hygiene while wearing the system. Then the teeth are cleaned of plaque, tartar and covered with a special compound to increase adhesion to the attachment mechanism of orthodontic retainers.

Retainers are divided into two main types: for permanent and occasional wear. They differ depending on the time of wearing, convenience, material of manufacture. You can see both types in detail in the photo, they have their advantages and disadvantages, as well as supporters and opponents among dentists, so you need to talk about them in more detail.

Removable

Removable retainers are made of metal or plastic. They can only be worn at night or all day, depending on the recommendation of the dentist. Retainers are single-jaw, which are installed either on the upper or lower jaw (they can be used for permanent or temporary wear) and double-jaw (only for temporary use). The device is made in the form of plates, thin arcs or transparent plastic caps.

The removable Hawley retainer for post-braces, invented in the early 20th century, is still the most popular type of system. Made from plastic and stainless steel, it is comfortable to wear and easy to clean. Another common design is the Osamu retainer, which was first used in 1980 by Japanese specialists. Unlike the Hawley product, the device has two rows of plates for the best fixation of the dentition.

Sometimes dentists prescribe the wearing of trainers (we recommend reading: teeth trainer and its varieties: T4K, T4A). These are special retention plates made of soft silicone, which not only help to fix the result after the braces, but also save the patient from bad habits that contribute to the destruction of teeth: mouth breathing, improper swallowing, etc.

Fixed

Fixed retainers differ from removable ones in the way they are worn. Their installation on the inside of the teeth does not cause discomfort to a person. Design features make it difficult to carry out hygiene procedures, and also require periodic monitoring by the dentist. This is due to the fact that the plate can peel off at any time and, left unattended, will nullify all previous treatment.

A fixed retainer looks like a metal wire that is attached to the dentition with a special glue or key. Modern technologies allow you to install the structure in such a way that grooves do not remain on the teeth. The patient does not feel pain during the entire period of wearing the device, and after removing them, the teeth do not hurt.

Advantages and disadvantages of retainers

Both types of records have a number of advantages and disadvantages, they must be mentioned. To begin with, let's talk about fixed systems, the advantages of which include:

aesthetic component: the design is invisible to others;
no need to constantly remind yourself to wear a retainer, it is always with you.

It is impossible not to say about the disadvantages of the non-removable variety:

Removable retainers also have a number of advantages, and these include:

there are no difficulties with hygiene, you can brush your teeth in the usual way;
there are no food restrictions;
the likelihood of damage to the structure is minimal.

There are also disadvantages, and these are:

the risk of forgetting to install the retainer at night;
psychological difficulties associated with wearing the device, which is placed on the front of the jaw, however, it should be remembered that, compared with the bracket system, retainers are much less visible to an outside observer.

Installation process

The orthodontist installs retainers immediately after wearing the braces (we recommend reading: how braces are put on: does it hurt and how long does the procedure take?). After removing the braces, the doctor first examines the oral cavity for the presence of diseases that have arisen during the period of wearing them. If caries or other ailments are found, they are first treated. After therapy, it is necessary to carry out professional oral hygiene, and then cover the teeth with a special compound for better fastening.

In addition to the direct method of installing retainers, another one is used. An impression of the patient's jaw is preliminarily made for it, a wire is attached to it, and then a retention arch is installed on the jaw and mounted with a key. The procedure is completely painless, and in the process of wearing there are no unpleasant sensations.

How long to wear and how to remove?

The period of wearing fixed retainers is determined by the orthodontist for each patient individually. It is impossible to immediately answer how long it will take, but usually it is calculated as the period of wearing braces, multiplied by two.

In some cases, you will have to wear plates all your life, it depends on a combination of factors: the degree of jaw deformation, the age of the patient, the absence of one or more teeth in the dentition, etc. Wearing removable braces at the end of treatment should not be stopped abruptly, gradual weaning is recommended: first, switching to night wear only, then use every other night, etc.

Can it be filmed at home?

Removing the system is contraindicated at home, only an experienced specialist in a dental clinic can perform this procedure quickly and safely. True, some patients believe that since the retention plate is installed only on the surface of the teeth, it will not be difficult to remove it at home.

We are obliged to warn that self-withdrawal orthodontic plates without special dental instruments and sufficient experience can lead to damage to the gums, teeth and oral mucosa, in addition, there is a risk of nullifying the entire procedure for leveling the bite. In addition, the patient is not able to independently determine whether it is really time to remove the device, or the treatment period should be extended. In the case of early removal of retainers, the teeth may eventually return to the position they were in before the installation of the braces, which means that the entire lengthy and expensive treatment procedure was not successful.

What to do if the retainer is peeled off?

Before installing the retainer, the doctor applies a special compound to the teeth, which increases the adhesion of the material to the surface, however, cases when the structure peels off do happen. Most often this happens where there are fillings in the teeth, or the jaw was processed insufficiently before installation. Peeling may occur due to contact with solid food. What to do in this case?

The main thing not to do is to ignore the problem. Even if the retainer has come off or torn on only one tooth, you should immediately contact a specialist. If you react in time, the situation does not pose a danger to the condition of the teeth, and if you let everything take its course, the dentition can “crawl”.

Of course, you don’t need to run to the doctor on duty in the middle of the night if you have a problem, but be sure to visit the dentist within 2-3 days. An experienced specialist will fix the problem in a matter of minutes.

Features of care

Oral hygiene during the period of wearing fixed retainers is much easier than caring for the bracket system. You don’t have to have a bunch of cleaning tools, you just need to learn a number of simple rules:

teeth with a plate installed can be cleaned with a regular toothbrush with paste, you just need to make gentle movements so as not to violate the integrity of the structure;
removable devices should be washed every day using soap or a special cleanser;
if you opted for a fixed design, you must use dental floss to clean the interdental space;
removable systems must be removed before eating;
Rinse your mouth twice a day with a liquid containing fluoride.

If you ignore these simple rules, you can start inflammatory disease, the treatment of which will take a long time and require material costs. Remember that the best protection against such troubles is prevention.