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Permanent Retainers

What are the benefits of permanent retainers?
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Featured Answer

21 UpVoted this answer
Usually after orthodontic treatment, teeth are prone to shifting a little bit. Depending on your bite, you may do well with "permanent" (called "fixed") orthodontic retainers. These are usually a done as a bonded wire on the backside of your teeth. Some patients have a combination bonded-wire from canine-to-canine on their lower teeth and a "removable" clear plastic retainer for their upper teeth. Here are the pluses and minuses for both:

Fixed retainer:

+ makes sure your teeth do not move as long as it stays bonded in place

+ do not have to remember to put in retainer when going to bed at night

+ good choice if you already have to wear a different type of dental appliance such as a nightgaurd or sleep apnea appliance

+ oftentimes, if your dentist/orthodontist achieved a stable bite, only need the lower fixed retainer and might not need to retain the upper teeth at all or (just minimally). This is because shifting in the uppers can be dictated by the bite against the lowers. If the lowers stay aligned, then the uppers can follow. However, always check with your dentist/orthodontist first if they believe this is the case with your particular mouth.

- oral hygiene. Keeping the device and associated teeth clean can be difficult. Flossing and brushing extra carefully!

- some patients do not like the feeling of a wire in their mouths and the tongue can become raw rubbing against it.

- can sometimes de-bond and require re-bonding. Inconvenience and cost.

Removable retainer:

+ oral hygiene is unaffected.

+ if it is a clear plastic type retainer that covers everything (such as Invisalign Vivera or Essix), then it can also protect your teeth from minor night time grinding and clenching.

+ can eventually be worn every other night or a few times a week after it is determined by your dentist/orthodontist that your teeth are stable enough. Perhaps eventually not requiring any use at all.

+ is a good back-up if you get a tooth knocked out or chipped. The dentist can use it as a guide to restore the tooth or replace the tooth with an implant and achieve better results.

- you have to remember to wear it

- you cannot wear any other type of dental appliance such as a sleep apnea appliance or nightgaurd

- you have to keep it clean. It can get a little grubby looking. May need to order a new set every few months or years.

- some people find it feels uncomfortable to sleep and have plastic in your mouth.

For my patients, I usually use a wire if they choose "permanent fixed" retainers and Invisalign Vivera or Essix) if they choose "removable" retainers.

I hope this answer helps with your decision making.

-Signal Hill Dental Centre
16 UpVoted this answer
As a pediatric dentist who treats many orthodontic patients, I truly detest fixed (permanent) retainers. They are generally ridiculous to keep clean and chronically break (thus aren't truly "permanent"). Most patients decide not to floss too, because it is more challenging and time-consuming, so that compounds the problem. For a patient who isn't responsible enough to remember to wear their retainers I suppose a fixed retainer would be acceptable. But, in my opinion, if orthodontists had to experience a fixed lower retainer for themselves, they would probably not make them for their patients. It seems that at the present time, this is the orthodontic "fad" of the day. Most patients receive this type of retainer as a standard part of their care...and that's too bad.
7 UpVoted this answer
Permanent Retainers are the best choice for patients who want to "get it and forget it". Due to the fact that the teeth begin to shift naturally as we age; a permanent retainer generally offers better long-term results for teeth straightening. Obviously flossing with a permanent retainer is a challenge, however your orthodontist can show you effective ways to floss and keep a healthy mouth with your permanent retainers.
Travis Goss
6 UpVoted this answer
The benefit is as the name implies... it is permanently bonded to the teeth. It stays in place working to hold the teeth 24/7/365. It is more difficult to floss and clean around, can not be accidentally lost at a restaurant or thrown in the trash. They do occasionally wear out and have to be replaced.
6 UpVoted this answer
Patients forget or refuse to wear retainers that are removable. Permanent retainers are the dentist's answer to non-compliant patients. These are usually bonded to the tongue side of the lower teeth and can be designed in such a way so as to make flossing easy. Talk to your dentist about design options and ask for the Mahony-Style. If they don't know what that is, keep asking.
6 UpVoted this answer
The benefit of a permanent retainer is it is fixed in the mouth so you don't have to take it in and out. However, they do make it difficult to floss your teeth and can lead to gingivitis and periodontal disease if you don't find a way to properly floss those teeth.
Jarrett Newsome
5 UpVoted this answer
After 25 years of doing successful Orthodontics, braces and removable appliances, I have seen "more" destructive forces" involved with "permanent" retainers because of Periodontal disease and bone loss, reversed oseo-intergration, than good. Patients stop cleaning/flossing between the teeth that are bonded/wired because it is "too much trouble" to keep up the extra cleaning & flossing so they just stop. Permanent retainers will keep the teeth involved in a "fixed" state but the destructive forces that come with them just is not worth it. I would go with "removable" retainers & be a happier person for it! Just don't throw them away or let the "dog eat them". :-)
David Caldwell
5 UpVoted this answer
The benefit of a permanent retainer is to keep teeth from shifting. Everyone that is concerned about shifting of teeth should consider a removable or permanent retainer to wear during sleep. A permanent retainer is a wire that is bonded to the inside surface of the lower front teeth and provide full time retention. This will prevent the natural shifting of the lower teeth over a period of time. Keep in mind that the wire and attachments are more likely to accumulate plaque and its more difficult to floss. With the proper flossing techniques, home care, and regular dental cleanings the risk of gingivitis is minimized.
Cozy Dental Group
4 UpVoted this answer
Permanent retainers are the clear choice for patients who want to get it and forget it. Once your orthodontist places the permanent retainer in your mouth, you won’t need to worry about anything else regarding your retainer. Due to the fact that teeth begin to shift naturally as we age, a permanent retainer typically offers better long-term results for teeth straightening than a removable one. Unlike a removable retainer, you can’t forget to put it in because it’s already there! Now every pro has its con, flossing with a permanent retainer can be a little more difficult, however, your orthodontist can show you effective ways to floss fairly quickly with your permanent retainer.
3 UpVoted this answer
Permanent retainers prevent movement of the teeth. If you have had orthodontic treatment, you will need to wear retainers for a while to prevent teeth movement back to their original positions.
J. Abe  Smith