There are a few different types of retainers on the market. Essentially, they all do the same thing, which is to hold your teeth in place after you’ve had braces or aligners. Your dentist will craft you a retainer to wear every night, which is important. The more you wear your retainer, the better the defense you have against teeth shifting. There are different types of retainers, so today we’ll be looking at a few of them so you understand what you receive from your dentist and how it works.
The most common type of retainer is a clear retainer. These retainers are made from typically 1mm thin plastic. They will snap onto your teeth tightly and hold them in place. For the most part, they are very comfortable, and you won’t notice them when you sleep. These clear retainers are to be worn at night to help prevent teeth shifting. The material for clear retainers is the biggest difference.
Premium clear retainers are made from Tagluss Tuff, Essix, or Zendura material. All three are great and will properly hold your teeth in place and have long lifespans before needing to be replaced. Anytime you get a retainer, it will need to be replaced just about every year. With the nature of wearing them nonstop at night, your retainers will eventually grow dirty or cracked. When this happens, it’s important to replace your retainer immediately. If you continue to wear a dirty retainer, you may become sick from the bacteria, or if your retainer is cracked, you might start to see micro shifting in your teeth.
One of the older types of retainers are called Hawley retainers. These retainers are crafted by your dentist and are often seen as “outdated,” although they can still be created for valid reasons. A Hawley retainer is a wired one that you’ll be able to remove from your mouth. Just like the clear retainers, you’ll have to sleep with them in each night. The problem with Hawley retainers is that because they are wired, food often gets stuck in them, making the process of cleaning them a chore. They also require maintenance and routine visits to your dentist. Your dentist may adjust your Hawley retainer if it is not fitting correctly. Hawley retainers are more durable than the clear retainers, but because of all the issues mentioned, they are not as popular.
A third type of retainer is the permanent type. These are wired and are cemented on the back of your teeth. Typically, your dentist will cement the retainer on the bottom teeth instead of the top, but they can do both. The perk about these retainers is that your teeth will be fully protected 24/7. You won’t be able to take the retainer off. Your dentist will need to monitor it each time you go in for an appointment, just to make sure it is still holding up and doesn’t need to be adjusted.
Replace your lost, cracked, gross, and damaged dental retainers with a new one from SportingSmiles. Prevent your teeth from shifting using the most durable clear retainers available. Take your own impression at home and save hundreds over going to the dentist. Impression kit included.
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Those are the three types of retainers that you would potentially receive. Clear, Hawley, and permanent all have their perks, but the clear retainers are the easy winner. These are the most comfortable, and you’ll be able to take them out of your mouth during the day. When you get one from your dentist, be sure to ask for your physical molds or a digital scan of your teeth.
Eventually, the clear retainer will need to be replaced. When it needs to be replaced, SportingSmiles has been the top choice for replacing your retainer since 2009. You may use the patented impression kit, your physical molds, or STL Files and receive a brand new, clear retainer to keep your teeth from shifting! Over one million people have trusted SportingSmiles for their retainer. Next time you need a replacement set or a backup to keep, try SportingSmiles!
