November 30, 2024

NVT Health

Health Blog

The Importance of Retainers After the Removal of the Braces

The dental experts suggest wearing retainers after you remove your braces. As the name says, retainers are devices that retain the dental lining in their new rectified position by the braces. 

Since you have put lots of hard work into installing the braces and their maintenance for the suggested duration, it is strictly advised to get the help of the retainers when the braces are removed. 

Estes Orthodontics is your helping hand not only with braces installation but also the aftercare. 

They will clearly explain the process of braces installation before the actual fitting and especially about aftercare when the patients reach the end of the treatment to learn about the importance of retainers. 

Visit their website to find the expert orthodontist in North Berkeley and to learn more about their services. 

Retainers After Braces 

The braces work to get the teeth aligned to the proper position and create a healthy dental lining inside the mouth. When the time required for the teeth’ alignment is complete, the dentist removes these braces. 

The gum lining will be used for the presence of braces and will still be smooth and soft, which can lead to the realignment of teeth to their irregular positions. 

The softened gum lining needs strong support to keep the newly aligned teeth in place, which is when braces come into play. Braces can be the right kind of support for the gum lining to keep the dental lining in check. 

After a few weeks, the dentist will suggest you stop using braces once they confirm that your gum is strong enough to hold the teeth in position on its own. 

Teeth Retainer Fitting 

An orthodontist or a general dentist can help you get the retainer fitted according to the gum layer. 

There are two kinds of retainers –

  • Fixed retainers – Fixed retainers stay fixed onto your teeth and can be removed only by the dentist. They are fixed onto the upper, lower, or front position. 

They can avoid teeth shifting after the braces is removed and keep the teeth aligned until they are set.

  • Removable Retainers—Unlike fixed retainers, Removable retainers can be removed from your mouth. They are attached with plastic wire and custom-made to the shape of your teeth. 

The Process 

The experts will first assess your dental lining to develop a suitable retainer for your mouth. The fixed retainers will be fixed onto the teeth with glue and wires. 

If you choose the fixed ones, you will be done for the day and walk out of the dentist’s clinic with the retainers installed on your teeth. 

If you choose the removable ones, you must wait until the laboratory gets you the customized retainers, which can take more than a week. 

Dentists suggest using retainers strictly after the braces are removed. They do not hurt and can help you maintain a healthy dental lining for years. 

Consult your dentist to learn more about how the retainers work after the braces are removed.