A retainer is a thin piece of metal wire and plastic that is specifically formed to a patient’s mouth. The wire wraps around the front arc of the teeth. The typical use for a retainer is to maintain the dental work that braces achieve by straightening and aligning the teeth. Retainers can be worn at night, during the day and in most cases will be a lifelong commitment so that the teeth don’t shift back into place and undo what the braces did.

Retainers are mainly used to help keep the teeth straight after someone has had their braces removed. This is the most common reason someone would need to use a retainer but it isn’t the only reason. A retainer can also help when someone grind’s their teeth at night. Grinding at night leaves the jaw and teeth sore in the morning and in the process it wears the teeth down like tread on a tire. This particular device is only worn at night and works by not allowing the mouth to fully close. This prevents the teeth from touching and grinding. This type of retainer is usually a piece of plastic that someone wears over their top teeth such as a mouth guard and will need to be worn every night.

Another reason someone may need to wear a retainer is to keep their tongue from sticking out between their teeth as they talk or swallow. This is called “Tongue Thrust” and it can damage the teeth, gums, jaw, and contribute to speech impediments or lisps. Tongue thrust is when the tongue puts pressure on the teeth forcing them outward and over time it will shift the teeth dramatically giving the child a misaligned bite. This is typically found in almost all children until the age of 6. This is when they should start to develop the normal tongue placement during swallowing and talking which is at the roof of the mouth. If this practice doesn’t stop then a special retainer is used that can help to coerce the tongue into its proper placement and over time the child will develop the correct habit. This type of retainer doesn’t need to be worn for life only at night until the harmful habit is broken.

These small pieces of metal and plastic are not only helping to keep teeth aligned after braces but they can also align teeth all by themselves. Some retainers are used to help shift teeth when it is just a few that needs to be moved. They also help with closing a gap between teeth. Orthodontic braces would be overkill for these simple tasks but retainers are perfect for those types of small jobs. These retainers are like braces and are worn all day and night until the desired shift has occurred.

We use retainers to keep teeth straight, fix a gap between teeth, or help with childhood disorders. These little pieces of metal are resilient in what they can do as long as the instructions from the dentist are adhered to. If you have any questions or concerns about a particular retainer or if you need one consult your dentist, I’m sure they would love to help!

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