With locations in Bethesda, College Park, and Potomac, Rad Orthodontics provides patients with access to orthodontists in Maryland, specializing in tooth alignment, jaw growth, and straightening teeth. The practice offers orthodontic treatments that will leave patients with beautiful smiles that promise to last a lifetime.
What Are Orthodontic Retainers?
Orthodontic retainers are medical appliances to protect the results of orthodontic treatment. They are used to retain the treatment benefits and prevent the patient's teeth from shifting out of alignment.
Types of Retainers
Permanent Retainers
These are retainers that are glued or bonded to the back of a patient's teeth and connect their front teeth to prevent them from moving.
Pros
- Invisible from the outside
- They don't impact speech
- Easy to clean
- Cannot get lost
Hawley Retainers
These retainers have a plastic plate molded to the roof of the patient's mouth and connected to a wire running across the teeth.
Pros
- Durable
- Removable
- Easy to mold to a patient's mouth
- Can be adjusted if necessary
Plastic Retainers
Plastic retainers are clear retainers that fit snugly over the patient's teeth. In most cases, they are worn at night to prevent teeth from shifting. They come in different types, such as Essix retainers and Invisalign Vivera retainers.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Removable
- Subtle appearance
- Offer long-lasting performance
Why They Are Necessary
The following are some of the reasons why orthodontic retainers are necessary.
Stabilizing Bite
Retainers help stabilize the teeth in their new arrangement and ensure that the relapse or shifting is minimal.
Spacing Wisdom Teeth
Some patients, especially teens, might use retainers to maintain the space needed in their jaw to accommodate their wisdom teeth. The retainers ensure that the teeth will not shift or crowd because of a lack of space.
Holding Teeth in their Positions
Orthodontic retainers help ensure that the patient's teeth are repositioned firmly in their new positions until the mouth adapts to the changes brought on by the treatment.
Preventing Treatment Reversal
Teeth tend to return to their old positions after removing braces. By wearing retainers for a few months after getting their braces removed, patients can prevent this from happening.
Get in touch with Rad Orthodontics to learn more about the state-of-the-art orthodontic care the dental practice offers. You can reach the practice's College Park branch by dialing (301) 345-7710.
