Clear or wire retainers that hold your straightened teeth in place at Highfield Dental Clinic, Edgbaston.
Orthodontic results are only as good as the retention that follows. We make retainers that fit properly and explain exactly how to use them.
A removable retainer is an appliance worn to hold teeth in their new positions after orthodontic treatment. Clear retainers are thin, transparent and resemble aligners. Wire retainers, sometimes called Hawley retainers, use a wire across the front teeth with an acrylic plate.
Teeth do not simply stay where they are put. The fibres and bone around them take time to reorganise, and teeth continue to drift naturally throughout life, so retention is a long-term commitment rather than a short phase after treatment.
Finished orthodontic treatment or lost your retainer in Birmingham? Our experienced team can make retainers designed for your teeth.
Retainers are made from scans taken as treatment finishes. The process usually involves:
Your clinician will explain how often to wear them, which is typically more frequent at first and then reduced to a long-term routine.
Clean retainers daily with cool water and a soft brush. Never use hot water, leave them on a radiator or in a car, as heat distorts the plastic permanently. Always store them in their case, as the most common causes of loss are napkins at restaurants and pockets.
If a retainer feels tight after a break from wearing it, this indicates your teeth have already begun to move. Try to wear it and contact us. If it will not seat properly, do not force it. Retainers wear out over the years and will need replacing periodically, which is a normal part of long-term
Indefinitely, if you want to keep your result. Wear is usually more frequent initially, then reduces to a long-term routine that your clinician will specify.
Teeth will gradually drift, and the movement can be surprisingly quick in the first year after treatment. Relapse often means needing further orthodontic treatment.
Clear retainers are more discreet and cover the biting surfaces. Wire retainers are more robust and longer-lasting but more visible. We will discuss which suits you.
This usually means your teeth have moved slightly. Wear it as much as you can and contact us. Do not force it if it will not seat fully.
Brush it with cool water and a soft brush daily. Avoid toothpaste on clear retainers, which can scratch them, and never use hot water.
Contact us as soon as possible so a replacement can be made. The longer you go without, the more your teeth can move.
