The braces fitted by Dr. John R. Schouten have effectively realigned your teeth, through the course of multiple adjustments to give you a more functional mouth and an appealing smile. At the same time there is still some residual tension in the periodontal ligaments that anchor your teeth in your mouth. As a result, you will need to wear a retainer, even after your braces have been removed. The retainer will help hold your teeth in place, until the residual tension subsides.
Most people need to use a retainer for about as long as they had braces. There are three different types of retainer that Dr. John R. Schouten might prescribe, depending on the particular details of your mouth, and how much realignment was done.
Hawley retainers are the most common. This is a removable retainer made from a custom molded piece of acrylic. It’s anchored in place by a set of wires that interlock with specific teeth in your mouth.
Clear plastic retainers are more common for people only wore braces for a short period of time and only required minor realignment. They are very similar to clean plastic aligner brands like Invisalign and Clear Correct.
Fixed retainer are often reserved for individuals that needed a significant amount of adjustment. This is even more likely if you had significant alignment issues in your lower teeth. This style of retainer is a durable wire retainer that is cemented in place behind your teeth.
If you are coming up on the time to have your braces removed and you are curious about what type of retainer is best for you, please feel free to call Dr. John R. Schouten at 801.491.9372 to schedule an appointment.
