Years ago, if someone had suggested getting braces after adolescence, you would have thought it was crazy. Today, the trend is the opposite. More and more people are turning to orthodontics after finishing high school, or even college, to achieve a perfect smile. This includes those who, having undergone orthodontic treatment during childhood, return to the specialist to correct teeth that have shifted again. Techniques and treatments have advanced significantly in recent years, and today we have new and improved solutions to achieve and maintain proper teeth alignment. At this stage, orthodontic retainers are perfect allies.
What are orthodontic retainers?
Having perfect teeth is a dream for many. The orthodontic appliances we use help correct imperfections such as crooked or crowded teeth, gaps between teeth, and even overbites. However, once the specialist removes the braces, the treatment must continue. This retention phase is just as important as the previous one, as its goal is to minimize the movement of the teeth that the braces have corrected. The best thing about these small devices, known as retainers, is that they are not bothersome and many are invisible.
Types of Retainers
Orthodontic retainers act as safeguards to keep our teeth aligned after orthodontic treatment. For this purpose, there are several options that the specialist may recommend to each patient:
- Fixed: this retainer is a small wire placed on the inner side of the teeth, remaining out of sight, making it practically invisible. To maintain its stability, it is attached to the canines and can stay in place for many years without needing removal. Both its placement and removal must always be performed by a specialist, and due to its discreet composition, it does not pose any difficulty in maintaining proper oral hygiene.
- Removable: the different types of removable retainers can be easily placed and removed by the patient. In fact, it is most common for the specialist to recommend using them during nighttime hours. The main removable retainer is called Essix, a transparent custom-made tray for each patient that covers the entire dentition. Another removable retainer is the Hawley, which consists of an arch-shaped wire that outlines the teeth.
It is likely that at first you will feel a strange sensation when wearing the retainers, but over time they will become unnoticeable.
Professional registration Nº 28004040
Degree in Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University of Madrid
Degree in Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid
Master’s Degree in Aesthetic Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid
University Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry, San Rafael Hospital, Madrid
University Specialist in Individual and Public Oral Preventive Programs, Complutense University of Madrid
Director of Radiodiagnostic Facilities
Medical Director, Smiling Dental Center
Specialist in Aesthetic Dentistry, Dr. Bruce Crispin, Los Angeles, California
Member of the Spanish Society of Prosthodontics (SEPES)
CPR Course
Advanced English
