Permanent retainer

Is A Permanent Retainer The Answer To Your Perfect Smile?

The last thing that you want, after months in braces, is to worry about losing your beautiful style to tooth movement. Of course, a little bit of shifting in your mouth is natural but too much change will kill the smile that you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Let’s look at how a permanent retainer might save your smile.

Permanent retainer

What is a permanent retainer? It’s a common type of retainer that consists of thin wires cemented behind your teeth to keep them from shifting out of position. Since it’s cemented into place, a permanent retainer is also known as a bonded or fixed retainer. Although the location where we fit the retainer depends on your individual needs, it’s common to place them behind the front bottom teeth.

When you’re choosing a type of retainer, it’s smart to examine the pros and cons of the different kinds of appliances to see if it fits your lifestyle and pocketbook. Take a look at the perks and negatives of the permanent retainer.

Permanent retainer perks

Permanent retainers are a favorite of many patients, and it stands to reason that this type of orthodontic appliance has a lot of perks going for it. Some of the most significant plusses include:

• Protection against loss- You can’t lose it since it’s cemented in your mouth.
• Comfort- There’s a good chance that you won’t notice the retainer while your chewing and talking.
• Cosmetic- The bonded retainer hides on the backside of your teeth, so it isn’t noticeable when you open your mouth. Go ahead and show the world your biggest smile.
• Usability- One of the biggest problems many people face when you are using a retainer is remembering to put it into your mouth each night. You’ll have peace of mind in knowing that your retainer is keeping your smile safe even when you forget you’re wearing it.

Permanent retainer downsides

No appliance is perfect, and some negatives come with using a permanent retainer. Common downsides include

• Oral hygiene- Do you stick to a rigorous schedule of brushing and flossing? A fixed retainer might not suit your needs if you sometimes slack off in your oral hygiene routine. The danger to your teeth and gums that food can get stuck in the retainer wires and cause decay and gum issues. We’ll give you stringent cleaning instructions if you choose to invest in a permanent retainer.
• Incomplete protection- It’s possible that the teeth that are not directly protected by the retainer might move out of alignment. In this case, you might also need to use a removable retainer to maintain proper tooth alignment.

Retainer care

Along with diligent brushing, many patients have good luck using a water flosser to remove debris from around the retainer wires. You most likely developed terrific oral hygiene habits while you were wearing braces and it’s imperative that you continue to treat your teeth and gums kindly so that your smile will last a lifetime.

Lastly, there is a variety of outstanding retainers available to help you maintain your hard-won smile. We’ll help you to decide if a permanent retainer is your best option. Contact us at Smiles for Life Orthodontics for all of your orthodontic needs.