Who needs a bonded retainer? You need a bonded retainer! That is… if you’ve just finished orthodontic treatment. Braces have an unfair cultural stigma attached to them which most people are quite eager to leave behind. The problem is that following brace treatment some people are a little too eager and inadvertently end up causing a relapse which, as you can probably guess, tends to lead to further brace work. Want to avoid this? Then you want a bonded retainer.

What is a retainer?

Well, it is a small removable device (usually consisting of wire and plastic) which retains the position of your teeth. Think of it as a brace-lite. There are three main types of retainer: Hawley, Essix and Bonded. Hawley is the most well-known of these three varieties and incorporates a metal wire which surrounds and keeps your teeth in position. They are also adjustable, which is handy. Essix retainers consist of clear PVC and similar in appearance to the positioners used in ‘invisible’ brace treatments. Bonded retainers, however, are made out of wire and are attached to your teeth via dental glue.

The advantages of a bonded retainer

Bonded retainers are able to hold even amongst the relapse prone teeth in place. They are glued into place, meaning there is no chance of you forgetting to put them back in. Bonded retainers are also mostly invisible as they are attached to the inside of your mouth!

The specifics of a retainer

Teeth are especially likely to relapse during your first month without braces, so make sure to have a retainer of some sort during this period! If your retainer is removable, it should only be taken out for cleaning your teeth and eating. Your dentist will most likely let you know how long to keep this up for. Obviously, if you are wearing a bonded retainer this isn’t an issue. This period can last between two months and a year, sometimes even longer. Following this period it is recommended you still wear a retainer occasionally, especially if you are prone to tongue thrusting!

Listen to your dentist

Remember to attend regular check-ups at Dublin18 Dental Care near Dun Laoghaire and take your dentist’s advice seriously!