Retaining that beautiful smile

When all is said and done, your teeth will undoubtedly look beautiful after orthodontic treatment – but how can you keep them this way? Your retainer of course. The best part of modern orthodontic treatment is the variety of options patients will have post-braces.

Permanent – A permanent retainer is the perfect solution for patients who don’t want to think about their retainer. It is bonded on the back of your teeth and provides a great long-term result for teeth straightening.

Hawley – The most common retainer you’ve probably see is a Hawley retainer made of acrylic and metal. The acrylic goes up against the roof of your mouth and the metal is in front of your teeth like braces. This is the most reliable type of retainer. Your orthodontist can "tweak" the metal to help finish any small refinements that still need to be done to your teeth.

Essix – An Essix retainer is very similar to an Invisalign tray. Many orthodontists give both an Essix and a Hawley retainer to patients. An Essix is good to wear during the day when patients are interacting with people and a Hawley is perfect for sleeping.

No matter what type of retainer your get, the most important thing is to wear it exactly as the orthodontist tells you. The type of retainer you get will depend on your specific needs. Leave this decision to your orthodontist – unless you get to pick! Then follow you heart to the right retainer for you.