WHEN SHOULD THE RETAINER BE USED?
Sometimes we have some doubts or carelessness in the use of the retainer, which is as important or even more important than the dental appliances.
That said, the retainer should be worn after orthodontic treatment. And, it serves to maintain the alignment of the teeth. Because unfortunately, small undesirable movements can occur.
Although there is no consensus among orthodontists, both retainers (upper and lower) should be worn at least twice as long as fixed appliances. In practice, specialists say that the ideal is not to remove them for an indefinite period of time.
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF RETENTION APPLIANCE?
Generally speaking, there are two types of retainer:
1. FIXED RETENTION
In this type of retainer, the dentist will use a thin steel wire, which is bonded to the inner side of the teeth. The device then becomes invisible and allows the teeth to be contained in the proper position.
On the other hand, the major disadvantage of this type of retainer is the difficulty in cleaning, since you will have to pass dental floss or a brush. However, it is a simple retainer and offers a lot of comfort to the patient since it is very close to the teeth.
2. REMOVABLE RETAINER
In fact, the removable retainer is more practical and hygienic, since it can be removed during meals.
Therefore, the retainer is well positioned in the upper and lower arches. In general, it is recommended that retainers be worn during the first 6 months for 24 hours a day, except at meals, and exclusively at night in the following months.
CARE WITH THE RETENTION APPLIANCE
For example, when we are not using the device, we should keep it in a box that will come with it, to protect it from falling and not risk losing it.
However, to keep the removable retainer clean you just need to brush it with a toothbrush and water.
In other words, the hygiene of the fixed retainer is done with brushing and dental floss. As the piece is straight in shape, it often makes it difficult to pass the dental floss.
