Retainers are of two types, removable or fixed.
Removable
As the name suggests these can be removed. There are a variety of different types. The most effective of which are the thin clear gum shield type, known as Essix retainers, as shown above.
For them to be effective though, you have to remember to wear them. Otherwise the teeth will inevitably drift out of position.
One issue with the Essix type is that they do tend to wear easily due to clenching and grinding at night. Advances in material technology has led to the recent introduction of more durable retainers. I am finding these to be remarkably robust.
Fixed
With a fixed retainer you do not need to remember to wear it, as it is directly bonded to your teeth. It is a thin wire which is bonded to the insides of the front teeth only. Usually just the front six.
This is one way it is fitted.
Because it only fixes to the front teeth it does not help with keeping the back teeth in place. Another issue is that it makes it harder to clean between your front teeth. More care and attention is needed.
With both types it is essential to have them checked with regular dental visits to ensure any wear and tear is picked up early and corrected.
I usualy advise the combination of both fixed and removable retainers. The fixed retainer gives a degree of security against the movement of the most noticeable teeth, those at the front. The back teeth are held in place with the removable retainer worn at night.
How often to wear removable retainers?
Once initial braces treatment is complete I advise wearing a removable retainer full time for 2-3 months. After this it can be at night time only.
Does it have to be worn every night?
Not wearing it the odd night once a week is not going to cause a problem. The danger is that this progresses to being 2-3-4 days at a time. This will lead to the teeth drifting. I recommend wearing it all night every night.
I hope this has been informative and if your teeth have drifted then please get in touch and we can discuss how best to get them looking great again.