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Permanent or fixed retainers are made of metal wire that is bonded to your teeth. Typically, this wire is smooth and solid or has a braided texture. It adapts to your teeth and adjusts to your bite so your teeth don’t move or misalign.
Your orthodontist may also recommend one if you are having trouble following their instructions for removable retainers. But there must be a certain amount of tooth surface area for the adhesive to lock the retainer in place.
In many cases, orthodontists use a combination of removable and permanent retainers for the best long-term results. But
Removable retainers are usually used on the upper teeth and permanent retainers on the lower teeth, but which retainer you use depends on what is best for your teeth.
Let’s look at how permanent retainers work, how they fit with other retainers, and how to clean and maintain them to maintain your best smile.
Permanent retainers also have the following names:
- welded fasteners
- lingual wire
- fixed retainers
Permanent retainers are most often used on mandibular teeth.
The retainer is called a lingual wire because it is attached or glued to the back surface of your teeth. It is easier to securely attach the adhesive to lower teeth such as canine teeth for effective long-term use.
The name “permanent retainer” suggests exactly what the appliance does: it stays permanently on your teeth to keep them from moving. You may have a permanent retainer on your teeth for the rest of your life.
Your dentist or orthodontist may remove your permanent retainer if it irritates your gums or teeth or causes too much plaque or tartar to build up on the teeth around it.
Advantages of permanent retainers
- You don’t need to upload it, which makes it easier to keep your teeth in place after your braces are removed.
- No one else knows it’s there except you, because it’s stuck behind your teeth.
- It has little to no effect on the way you speak, so you don’t have to feel self-conscious about wearing it in public.
- You can not miss it because it is well fixed with dental glue.
- It is difficult to destroy from normal daily use of your mouth.
- It keeps your teeth in place to keep your teeth aligned since the retainer is always in place.
Advantages of removable retainers
- You can take them out at any time, such as when eating or brushing your teeth.
- It only takes 30 seconds to 1 minute to take an impression (mould) of your mouth to make a removable bracket that will last for years.
- You can clean them easily by immersing them in one of the many types of cleaning solutions available. This is highly recommended because bacteria can quickly build up on plastic removable retainers.
- It is easier to floss because you can remove the retainer.
- Removable retainers may be better for upper teeth, as the lower teeth may bite into an upper fixed retainer. This can make the retainer less secure or damage it.
A permanent retainer may seem like a great alternative to a retainer that you have to put on or take off all the time if you think it might be a challenge to use for comfort or aesthetics. However, both types of retention have their advantages and limitations.
Here are some considerations and possible disadvantages of permanent retainers:
- The process for placing a permanent retainer can be long and uncomfortable. Sometimes it can take up to an hour to bond a retainer to your teeth. All you have to do for a removable retainer is get a quick impression that your orthodontist can use to make one that fits your mouth.
- Brushing and flossing around a permanent retainer takes extra effort. Your risk of tooth decay and gum disease can increase if you don’t take the time to properly clean around your permanent base.
- Having a metal object in your mouth all the time can be uncomfortable. Your tongue may rub against the wire. If the tie comes off or the wire breaks, your tongue may become irritated or scratched.
- Eating certain foods can change how effective it is. Biting into hard or tough foods, such as a whole apple or a tough steak, can bend the wire out of shape. Foods high in artificial sugars or similar additives, such as soda, can also wear away at the adhesive material, possibly loosening the retainer’s bond to the teeth.
- The cable may break or become disconnected, requiring repair or replacement. You may have to pay a replacement fee to get a new one made.
For a retainer that has bent or moved, do not attempt to fix the problem yourself. Applying too much pressure to the retainer can end up breaking the adhesive or wire and damaging your teeth.
If its shape changes, the retainer will not hold your teeth in the correct position. If the retainer is bent or moving:
- Make an appointment to see your orthodontist. If the retainer is not bothering you or hurting other parts of your mouth, make an appointment as soon as possible with your dentist or orthodontist to adjust or repair the retainer.
- Call your dentist or orthodontist immediately. If the retainer has broken or injured another part of your mouth, see your dentist or orthodontist immediately to minimize any further damage to your teeth, mouth or retainer.
- Check for emergency contact. Many dentists and orthodontists have an emergency line that you can call or text in an emergency. Ask your dentist or orthodontist if they have them so you can contact them for immediate help if your retainer breaks or injures you.
Clean your retainer every day to keep it looking good and protect the teeth around the area.
Brush as you normally would, making sure to work your bristles in and out around all the crevices between the teeth so that no area is neglected, especially areas near the bonded material or behind the wire itself.
Tips for flossing with a permanent retainer
Floss is the real challenge with permanent retainers.
But it’s not too hard once you get the hang of it the first few times — here are some cleaning tips for easy permanent retainer flossing:
- Use a 6-inch piece of floss along with a piece of floss to stick the floss between two of your lower front teeth, taking one end of the floss between your fingers and the other end on the floss.
- When the floss is between the teeth, gently raise and lower the floss along the sides of the teeth from their tops to where they meet the gums. Don’t be too forceful or you may cut or injure your gums.
- When you are done with a set of teeth, move the floss back to the top of the teeth and slide the floss over the next set of teeth.
- Pull the floss down between the next set of teeth and repeat step 2 to clean between them.
- Repeat these steps until you have flossed between each of the teeth secured by the permanent retainer.
You can find threads of yarn In connection and in stores.
Permanent retainers can be a convenient alternative to a removable plastic retainer, but they’re not for everyone.
Talk to a dentist or orthodontist (you can even get multiple opinions) about options for your dental goals and needs to see what’s right for you.
