Table of Content
The 4 Types of Retainers (and How to Tell Which Type You Need)
by Dylan Hao |
Your braces stage is over, and now it’s on to keeping your smile in its newly straightened position! To hold onto that confidence, you’ll need to wear your retainer consistently for a while.
Retainers play a vital role in making sure your teeth don’t shift back into their old positions. These small oral appliances protect the investment you’ve made in your orthodontic treatment.
There are several types of retainers on the market. This guide explains how each works to help you make an informed decision about this long-term stage of your oral health care.
Types of Retainers: An Overview
Dental retainers are an essential part of your orthodontic treatment, and they’ll be part of your daily routine long after your braces or Invisalign are gone.
Why is it so crucial to wear a retainer even after your teeth are straightened? Well, imagine each tooth is attached to a rubber band, called the periodontal ligament, that connects it to an anchor in your jawbone. This rubber-band-like tissue is stretchy and responds to mechanical forces from external factors like braces, which is great when you want to move your teeth. But once that force is removed, the tissue can begin to contract, pulling your teeth back toward their original positions.
To ensure those newly straightened teeth stay where you want them, you need the structure of a retainer to keep the periodontal ligament stretched until it stiffens into place. This process can take years, during which time you’ll use your retainer daily, so you need to choose the right one for your lifestyle habits and needs.
Types of Dental Retainers
Retainers aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The one that’s right for you depends on factors like your aesthetic preferences, comfort, and durability needs. Here, we’ll break down the four most common types of retainers, their pros and cons, and who they’re best for.
Hawley Retainers
Hawleys are the traditional metal-wire-and-acrylic version most of us think of when we picture a retainer. Long-lasting and adjustable, these widely recognized oral appliances consist of a thin metal wire that wraps around the front teeth and an acrylic base that rests across the roof of the mouth or along the inside of the lower teeth. This design allows your upper and lower teeth to come into comfortable, natural contact.
One of the biggest advantages of the Hawley retainer is its durability. With proper upkeep and care, this device can last for years. When minor corrections are needed, your orthodontist can adjust it easily.
The downside of Hawley retainers is that they’re more noticeable than clear aligners, so if you don’t want anyone to know you’re using one, you’ll need to remove it frequently. When you do wear yours, it can impact your speech. But frequent removal means these devices are easy to misplace, and replacements are usually an out-of-pocket expense.
The ideal candidate for a Hawley retainer is someone who prioritizes flexibility in when and where they wear their device and long-term durability over aesthetics. This person should also be responsible enough to keep track of and take care of the retainer. Hawley retainers need to be cleaned regularly (see this article for tips), stored properly, and kept away from extreme temperatures.
Essix Retainers
Essix retainers are made from thin, transparent plastic. The material is durable but moldable enough to fit snugly over your teeth. Essix retainers are a popular option because they’re nearly invisible and comfortable enough to wear all day.
This type of retainer acts similarly to clear aligners. It looks like a tooth-shaped tray and slides over the upper or lower arch of your mouth. Discreet, soft, and easy to wear, Essix retainers are appealing to those who want structure without the visibility of metal wires.
However, there are some disadvantages to an Essix retainer: the material is prone to cracking and warping, it isn’t adjustable if your teeth shift, and the clear design makes the retainer easy to lose.
The ideal candidate for Essix retainers is someone who wants a low-profile retainer for daily wear, especially in professional or social settings, but can keep track of the removable device. This type of retainer requires gentle cleaning methods (including avoiding hot water) and will need to be replaced periodically.
Bonded Retainers
Bonded, fixed, and permanent retainers are different terms for a thin wire permanently attached to the back of your front teeth (usually on the lower arch). This fixed position provides the wearer with continuous support without the need to remember to wear it or keep track of the retainer’s location.
Bonded retainers aren’t as popular as their removable counterparts, but they’re a great way to prevent a relapse of shifting teeth, particularly in the lower front area. They’re hard at work 24/7, and since they’re invisible from the front, they’re also discreet.
There are a few cons to these appliances, though. The design ensures the metal isn’t visible, but this setup also makes it difficult to clean the area. If the retainer isn’t maintained properly, it can contribute to plaque buildup. For this reason, those who wear a bonded retainer should seek regular dental monitoring.
Permanent retainers are an ideal choice for people who struggle with consistency or worry about relapsed teeth. Maintenance for this device consists of using floss threaders and water flossers to keep the area behind the metal clean, along with maintaining regular dental checkups.
Vivera Retainers
Vivera retainers are a premium option using Invisalign’s advanced 3D imaging technology. Crafted from thermoplastic material for greater durability, Vivera retainers give wearers a more precise fit and increased longevity compared to standard clear retainers.
These devices are usually provided in sets, allowing you to rotate between them for increased longevity. They’re comfortable and discreet, making them popular for those who want structure without the visibility of a Hawley retainer.
However, Vivera retainers require an Invisalign provider to prescribe them, and they’re more expensive than the basic Essix retainer. Because they’re removable, they can easily be misplaced, and replacing them costs about as much as having an original made.
Those who have used Invisalign or want a premium clear option would be the best candidates for the Vivera retainer. To keep yours lasting as long as possible, rotate wearing between the sets, store them properly when not in use, and clean them regularly with non-abrasive solutions.
How to Tell Which Type of Retainer You Need
Choosing the right retainer based on fit and appearance is important, but the more crucial factors are those that will affect long-term success. For the best results, start by asking your orthodontist for their recommendations, then consider factors such as lifestyle, dental history, budget, and your comfort.
Orthodontist Recommendations
Your orthodontist has seen many cases like yours and understands what works and the obstacles that keep people from achieving successful retention after braces are removed.
Professional guidance is vital when it’s your first retainer, or when you have other issues, like TMJ disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, or teeth grinding. Depending on the severity of those problems, you may need a special night guard to wear alongside your retainer.
Lifestyle Considerations
Once the clinical aspects are addressed, the next factor to think about is your lifestyle. This is where things like aesthetics and daily routines come into the picture.
Do professional demands or speech concerns make a removable retainer more practical for you? Are you more or less likely to wear your retainer consistently if you can take it out when you want to? These answers will help you decide whether a removable retainer is sufficient (and whether a Hawley or clear option is best), or if a fixed retainer is a better idea.
Dental History
Now, consider your dental history. How severe was your initial misalignment? If it was moderate to severe, you may have a greater risk of relapse, meaning you’ll need to wear your retainer as often as possible, which may point you toward a bonded retainer. But if your gum health or dental hygiene routines aren’t optimal, this option may not be the best fit for your oral health. Your dentist can guide you, but only you know whether you’ll keep up with brushing and flossing every day.
Budget
Retainer costs can vary widely. There’s the upfront cost of buying the appliance, and then the long-term replacement and maintenance expenses.
If budget is a concern, consider these tips:
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Hawley retainers are pricier initially but can be more cost-effective over time due to their longevity and adjustability when tweaks are needed.
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Essix retainers are cheaper initially, but may require more frequent replacement.
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Vivera retainers require a visit to an Invisalign provider and come at a premium price, but they offer multiple sets and durability.
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Bonded retainers may involve maintenance costs during dental visits, but unless they break, they don’t need to be replaced.
Evaluating the long-term value over the upfront cost can help you make a more informed decision before investing in a retainer.
Comfort and Sensitivity
Finally, there’s your comfort level. Although this factor comes last, it’s actually the key to compliance. If a retainer feels uncomfortable, you’re probably not going to wear it consistently.
Some patients notice extra sensitivity when transitioning from braces to retainers. Clear options tend to feel more comfortable, making the switch smoother. Hawley retainers can take time to get used to, and bonded retainers don’t usually cause initial discomfort but do require some adjustment to your oral hygiene routine.
Can You Get a Retainer Without Going Back to Your Orthodontist?
A replacement retainer is almost always an out-of-pocket expense, which gives you more flexibility in where to purchase it. In most cases, you don’t need to go back to your orthodontist unless you have complex needs that require professional supervision or you need to have a Hawley or bonded retainer repaired.
Otherwise, you can get the same kind of high-quality, custom-made clear retainers from a direct-to-consumer online lab.
How Direct-to-Consumer Labs Work
At-home retainers have become increasingly popular as word gets out about this convenient alternative to in-office visits. Companies that provide these services do everything by mail, eliminating the need to interrupt your day for a doctor’s appointment and reducing the extra expense, too.
Pros of At-Home Retainer Services
Shopping for a retainer online comes with many advantages. First, online labs remove much of the overhead of a specialist’s office, so they can offer the same level of high-quality retainer at a more affordable cost.
You can order a retainer from home, including any necessary replacements. Unless you have complications, like signs of teeth shifting or oral health problems, there’s no need to see the orthodontist again outside of your typical follow-ups.
Cons of At-Home Retainer Services
Of course, there are some downsides to this convenience. Since you’re making the impression yourself with the provided kit, there’s a risk that your finished impression won’t be optimal. Inaccurate dental impressions lead to a less precise retainer fit. There’s no professional evaluation, either, so this option isn’t suitable for those with complex dental health issues who would benefit from supervision.
When to Choose DTC or Professional Retainers
So when are direct-to-consumer labs appropriate, and when is a professional orthodontic appliance the better option?
DTC services are a practical solution for most people. If you simply need to replace a lost or broken retainer and your teeth have not shifted significantly (your alignment is stable), an online professional lab like JS Dental Lab can provide an affordable, easy replacement.
But sometimes, skipping professional care can lead to bigger issues. Head to your orthodontist if your retainer doesn’t fit properly anymore or you see visible signs of shifting or changes in spacing. Any changes in your oral health, including pain, discomfort, bleeding or sensitive gums, or changes in your bite, should be addressed by a dentist.
Professional supervision can identify underlying issues and help prevent further teeth shifting before they become a complicated problem.
Conclusion
A good retainer is an investment in comfort, stability, and long-term oral health. There are several types of retainers available, and the best one for you depends on factors like personal preference, dental history, and lifestyle habits.
Whether you choose a traditional Hawley retainer, a discreet Essix clear plastic retainer, a premium Vivera retainer, or a permanent retainer, consistency is key to long-term results. But when a replacement is necessary, JS Dental Lab could be the solution to an affordable, high-quality, custom-made dental retainer.
Skip the cost and time of a visit to the orthodontist, and head to JS Dental Lab today.
