Your orthodontist may recommend retainers after you have completed orthodontic treatment to straighten and align your teeth. If you do not utilize retainers to help keep your teeth in place, the results of your braces may not stay long.

Understanding Retainers

Orthodontic therapy has been available for a long time to straighten and align teeth, but the results have never been permanent. Orthodontists collaborated to develop a retention method that would make the results more permanent. Initially, they employed custom-made, detachable appliances to fit your teeth. Patients could take their retainers in and out as needed to keep their teeth looking nice.

Later, orthodontists began utilizing fixed retainers, which are attached to your teeth and cannot be removed. Permanent retainers keep your teeth from returning to their original position, and you don't have to remember to replace them.

A permanent retainer is a single metal or strong fiber wire that is bonded to your teeth using a particular bonding agent. This wire secures your teeth in place. Permanent retainers are more common on lower teeth and usually only affect four to six teeth in the front. Retainers should be worn within six months after the completion of your orthodontic treatment for the best outcomes.

Permanent retainers are expensive. The cost is heavily influenced by your specific dental requirements. Permanent retainers typically cost between $150 and $500. This implies that if you pick retainers for both your top and bottom teeth, you could spend up to $1,000. With good maintenance, retainers can last for up to 20 years before needing to be replaced.‌

Removing, fixing, and replacing retainers costs the same as installing them. Consider your retainers to be insurance for your investment in orthodontic treatment. You can save money in the long term if you take care of your permanent retainers.

Reasons for Permanent Retainers

Permanent retainers are usually fixed using one of two methods. The first option is to merely fasten them across the front of your mouth to your canines. The second step is to secure them across all of your teeth.

The following are some reasons why you should wear permanent retainers on your canine teeth:

  • Deep overbite‌
  • Rotation and crowding of your lower incisors are grave.
  • The amount of space between the bottom inter-canine teeth has changed.
  • Lower incisor surgery was used to treat your case.
  • Mild crowding is addressed without tooth extraction.

The following are some reasons why you should wear permanent retainers on all of your teeth:

  • The space between your top and bottom front teeth has been bridged.
  • Gaps between your other front teeth have been filled.
  • Following orthodontic treatment, your teeth are likely to migrate.
  • Before therapy, you had tooth loss.
  • You got your teeth extracted.
  • Before treatment, teeth were excessively rotated or crowded.

Pros and Cons of a Permanent Retainer

Pros of permanent retainers:

  • You won't forget to put them in
  • The chance of relapse‌ is small
  • It will last longer than removable
  • Fewer check-ups at the dentist's office to replace lost equipment or repair damaged one

Cons of permanent retainers: 

  • Need for precise placement
  • Specific bonding technique
  • Fragility
  • Needs more cleaning 

Most breaks happen within the first six months of having your permanent retainer. Biting into hard foods is the number one cause of broken permanent retainers. They may also wear down over time if they stay in place long-term, requiring replacement later in life. 

Taking Care of a Permanent Retainer

Permanent retainers increase your chances of developing dental problems because they create more little places to clean around. Following treatment, your orthodontist will provide instructions on how to care for your permanent retainer, which may include:

  • Brush your retainers from various angles, using mild pressure to avoid breakage. 
  • To access tight spots, use a floss threader and floss up and down in the crevices under your retainer wire. This procedure is explained in detail by your orthodontist.
  • When brushing and flossing, avoid any gaps, no matter how small. Bacteria are more likely to grow in small, difficult-to-reach areas.
  • If a floss threader does not work for you, try a water flosser.
  • Avoid hard foods and seeds, which might become stuck in your retainer.
  • Regular dental cleanings to monitor plaque and bacteria.

If you suspect that something is amiss with your retainer, contact your orthodontist right away. Allowing your retainer to become loose or broken may endanger your health and your teeth.