What Type of Retainer Is Right for You?

Posted August 7, 2023.

After your orthodontic treatment, you will want to get a retainer to hold your teeth in the perfect position. There are a couple of options for this:

• One type of retainer you can get is called a Hawley retainer. This type of retainer is made out of plastic or acrylic with a metal wire that holds the teeth in place. This is a great and affordable option, but one downfall is that you can see the metal wire that runs across your teeth. But that’s ok- in most cases, you only need to wear your retainers at night.
• There are also removable retainers, often called Essix, made out of plastic or polyurethane. These retainers are clear trays that fit over your teeth. They are thinner and more comfortable than a traditional Hawley would be, and you can conveniently have multiple copies made at one time in case of misplacement.
• If your main priority is appearance, then the best option for you is going to be a bonded permanent retainer. This is a fixed wire that runs along the back side of your teeth so no one can see it, and it can’t be misplaced. The downfall to this type of retainer is the maintenance it takes to clean and floss under to keep it clean.