Dental Retainers Types and Styles

Learn about the three different types of dental retainers available

Dental retainers information is usually distributed by your dentist or orthodontist. But if you are interested in doing some of your own research before you buy dental retainers, you should become familiar with the different dental retainers types and styles.

The three types of dental retainers available are Hawley retainers, Essix retainers, and bonded or fixed retainers. While Hawley retainers allow you to buy custom dental retainers, Essix retainers are made of clear plastic that make it easier to hide that you're wearing a retainer. When doing research on the types and styles of dental retainers, consider the following:

1. Traditional wire teeth retainers come in different colors and designs, which may make teenagers happier about wearing them.

2. Bonded or fixed retainers are easy to keep track of, because they are bonded to your teeth, but you need to be careful about cleaning them daily.

3. Clear plastic retainers are less noticeable than other retainers, but may not be as comfortable.

 

Learn about wire dental retainers

Wire retainers, also known as Hawley retainers, are the traditional retainers with a wire attached to a plastic molded piece. These retainers can be adjusted as needed, and usually come with dental retainer cases.
Try: See a picture and read a description of a Hawley retainer at Futuredontics. Web Dental Office also has a picture of a Hawley retainer and reviews the different types of dental retainers.

Look into bonded teeth retainers

Bonded retainers, or fixed orthodontic retainers, are worn on the bottom teeth and are not removed like other retainers. It is a wire that is bonded to the back of the teeth. It is important to keep clean dental retainers that are bonded to the teeth to remove food particles that get stuck around the wire.
Try: Animated-Teeth.com gives a good description of bonded, or fixed, retainers, along with the pros and cons of these retainers. The website of Drs. Cassinelli, Shanker & Biddle offer descriptions of all different types of retainers, including bonded wire retainers.

Consider a clear plastic teeth retainer

Clear plastic retainers, sometimes referred to as Essix retainers, are usually worn at night on the upper teeth. Patients are often given clear plastic retainers after braces are removed to help keep their teeth in line.
Try: TennesseeBraces.com shows a picture and gives a description of Essix retainers. Orthodontics 101 also has a picture of a clear plastic retainer and talks about when and how long patients should wear this type of retainer.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---