Orthodontic Retention - A Lifetime Commitment?

If you have been to our office for an orthodontic consultation, you have more than likely heard the term 'retention'.  Retention is the phase of orthodontic treatment required to keep teeth in the corrected position after they have been properly aligned with braces or Invisalign.  Without a phase of retention there is a tendency for the teeth to relapse or shift.  The teeth won't typically return completely to their initial position, but to avoid any unwanted shifting or movement, we recommend that every patient use some type of retention following orthodontic treatment. 

There are many different types of retainers and your orthodontist takes several factors into account when deciding which kind of retainer would best maintain the position of your teeth.  

Fixed Lingual Wire Retainers

These retainers are custom wires that are glued to the inside of the lower and upper front teeth.  The advantage of the lingual wire is that it is fixed on the teeth so the wearer doesn't have to remember to put it on each day. You can't lose or forget to wear the fixed retainer so there is very little concern of relapse. With the fixed retainer however, food can get trapped under the wire so the wearer has to brush and floss around the wire each day. Also, biting into hard foods can cause the wire to break or the bonding resin (glue) to come loose.  

Removable Retainers

Another type of retainer we offer our patients is a clear 'Essix' retainer which looks very similar to an Invisalign aligner. With this type of retainer, the teeth are fixed in position while wearing it. This retainer needs to be worn full time for the first three months of the retention phase. After that, night-time wear on a regular basis should keep the teeth in good alignment.


Yet another type of retainer is the 'Hawley' retainer. This retainer has an acrylic pad which fits in the roof of the mouth and a wire which can be seen on the outside of the teeth. Typically this retainer is used in between phases to maintain space or expansion for patients that require two phases of orthodontic treatment. 


Lifetime Retention

In talking with patients, your orthodontist will explain the importance of your retainer and exactly how long it should be worn. Typically, retainers are recommended to be worn all the time, 24/7, for a period of time. This can vary for each individual, but is often at least three months after the braces have been removed or Invisalign treatment has been completed.  After that, night-time retention is recommended for at least 24 months and then most patients can work their way down to wearing their retainer one or two nights a week. 

'Lifetime retention' does not mean wearing a retainer everyday for the rest of your life!  A good rule of thumb, however, is to keep in mind that some kind of retention will be required as long as you want your teeth to remain straight.