Why your Winter Park dentist thinks wearing your retainers is so important
Why your Winter Park dentist thinks wearing your retainers is so important
Your dentist and orthodontist can recommend wearing a dental retainer for a few reasons, but primarily, it is used after completing orthodontic treatment (such as braces or Invisalign) to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original position. Essentially, it helps protect the teeth alignment you worked so hard for!
There can be additional reasons to utilize dental retainers, such as maintaining your existing positions to prevent predicted future shifting, which may then require orthodontic treatment, using a retainer as a 'splint' to hold teeth in place for healing, or in preparation for a dental procedure, or providing a temporary replacement for a missing tooth.
In this post, we will focus on using retainers following orthodontic treatment, such as Invisalign, from your local Winter Park dentist.
Why do I need to wear a retainer?
After treatment with braces or Invisalign, your teeth have been adapted to shifting throughout treatment. Shifting your teeth involves the "stretching" and "widening" of your periodontal ligament connecting your teeth to bone. As the movements induced by shifting your teeth have signaled your body to allow the periodontal ligaments to be "looser," the retainers are a key step in your treatment to stop that movement and allow them to "tighten back up." The retainer serves the purpose of not only holding the positions of your teeth but also minimizing unwanted movements as your periodontal ligament and bone are remodeled and adapted to the new positions of your teeth.
In fact, your Winter Park dentist can typically see, on X-rays, the changes in the tissue and bones around your teeth while undergoing Invisalign or braces!
What are the different kinds of retainers?
Depending on your specific treatment, lifestyle, and habits, your local dentist may recommend different types of retainers.
The most common type of fixed retainer is a "wire" retainer, which is bonded to the back (tongue side) of your front teeth with resin-composite. This serves as a very effective method to hold your teeth positions that is easy to live with as it is not easily removable. However, it does require that the patient take extra care to keep the area clean via thorough brushing and flossing. Often, fixed wire retainers need a patient to "thread" the floss between your teeth and the wire to effectively floss between the teeth. As a result, we commonly see additional buildup and potential cavities in patients with fixed retainers.
An increasingly popular retainer style is the clear removable retainer, which looks similar to the clear aligners (like Invisalign) you may have worn for shifting your teeth. After treatment, these retainers are molded to the exact shape of your teeth' positions and can be removed during the daytime. Because they are removable, patients have an easier time flossing and brushing. However, because they are removable, they can be lost or damaged, or easy to forget or break the habit of wearing them each night. Over time, these retainers tend to wear down with natural bite forces or grinding/clenching while sleeping. So they will need replacement eventually.
Finally, there are also other removable retainers like a "Hawley" retainer, which uses acrylic and stiff wire to hold your teeth positions. This style is less common, as they are more costly to manufacture. However, it can also be very effective yet removable. Typically, these will last longer than the clear plastic removable retainers – and they have the same benefits of being unobtrusive when brushing or flossing since they are removable.
Do I have to wear my retainers every night forever?
The short answer is: You will need to wear your retainers each night for as long as you want your teeth to remain straight.
Initially, your Winter Park dentist will recommend wearing your retainers the same 20-22 hours a day you wore aligners during your treatment. Essentially, only remove them to eat, drink, or brush your teeth. After a few weeks to months, you will decrease the amount of wear and ramp down to only each evening. While we recommend forming the habit of wearing every night, some patients eventually wear their retainers only a few nights a week (skipping one or two nights). However, if your retainer starts to feel tight as you place it on, it may be a sign to return to nightly wear.
If I wear a nightguard, do I still need a retainer?
Suppose you have symptoms of bruxism (clenching or grinding your teeth). In that case, you may "chew" through your retainers at an accelerated pace – causing you to need to replace them too often or weaken them to the point they cannot function properly to hold your teeth positions. Because of this, you may be considering switching to a nightguard. However, in this situation, you should consult your local dentist on the best solution for you.
In our experience, patients using Invisalign's "Vivera” retainers can manage with adequate protection for mild cases of bruxism. Because these retainers tend to be more durable and very slightly thicker than a traditional clear retainer, patients are offered some protection from grinding. Because they are thinner than any nightguard – they provide a bit more comfort as well.
When patients show heavy wear on the retainers or feel soreness in their jaws from clenching, we suggest switching to a hard night guard, a single thick resin (typically 3D printed) retainer. The stiffness of this material allows it to act as a retainer while still providing durability for heavy bruxism.
Finally, another option is to provide fixed wire retainers for patients so they can utilize a hard/soft or other nightguard designed for heavy bruxism. These styles often have a soft inner layer to cushion and distribute clenching forces. In contrast, a tougher outer layer withstands grinding forces. Since the inner layer is typically a soft material, switching to a fixed retainer would be required to maintain the patient's teeth' position.
If you need some help replacing your retainer, changing to a different style, or just looking for some guidance – please give us a call or book an appointment!
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