|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All About Retainers
Why do we use Retainers?
As long as you live, your mouth is in a constant state of adaptation and change. This is true before braces, certainly during braces, and forever after braces. This does NOT mean that your mouth will "go back" to the way it was. But it will certainly change.
If you do nothing, you will have no control over the change-it will happen according to Mother Nature's whim.
If you use retainers, you will have control over change.
It is just like exercise. Your body is going to change over time. You can do nothing and see what happens, or you can watch what you eat, exercise and exert some control over what happens. But something will happen.
How long should I use retainers?
If you really want to influence change in your mouth, the answer is forever. Your mouth is always changing and adapting.
When does my mouth solidify and stop changing?
Please read the previous two paragraphs.
What kinds of retainers are there?
There are two types of retainers:
REMOVABLE and NON-REMOVABLE.
Removable retainers are usually made of acrylic resin, a type of plastic that has been in use in dentistry for decades.
Some removable retainers are a thin plastic shell, made by vacuum forming a sheet of thermoplastic material over an imprint of your teeth. They each pretty much do the same thing.
Non-removable retainers are usually a thin wire, bonded to the inside of the teeth.
What kind of retainer is better?
They all have the same purpose. One is not really "better" than another. But sometimes there are reasons that an orthodontist might recommend one type over the other. It is best to ask the orthodontist. Dr. Beckwith uses all of them, but removable retainers are nice, because they are easy to clean. Clean really matters in your mouth.
How to take care of retainers
Your retainers will quickly become covered with bacterial plaque when they are in your mouth. Plaque is a repulsive bacterial growth which causes disease and horrible odors. It is in your interest to keep your retainers clean.
All removable retainers should be thoroughly scrubbed with soap and water after they have been worn. Merely rinsing them will do nothing at all to clean them. Do not boil retainers or place in the dishwasher-this will damage them.
Acrylic resin retainers need special care.
After they are clean, they should be stored in water. Continual drying out of acrylic resin will allow it to shrink and become brittle. Resin retainers should never be soaked in alcohol as this will dry them out.
Since they are porous, resin retainers can get plaque in them as well as on them. They can be freshened up by soaking them in a cleaning solution. You can buy any commercial denture cleaner, or you can mix up your own with the following simple recipe using common household products:
1 tablespoon Clorox
1 tablespoon water softener, like Downey
12 oz of water
Mix these up and soak your resin retainer for a couple of hours.
Remove and rinse thoroughly. Do this every couple of weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
