Dental Orthodontic Treatment is described as the use of tools or devices to move the teeth or adjust the underlying bone. This is usually done to correct different types of malocclusion.
The treatment typically starts with the application of braces, which are worn over a certain period of time that is determined by your dentist or orthodontist. This is the phase where brackets and wires are applied to the teeth to coax them to move to their ideal positions.
After the treatment with braces, a period of retention usually follows. This period is important because there are instances wherein the teeth may have moved to their new positions but the muscles and bones have not adjusted to their new places yet, thus teeth tend to move back to their original positions.
Wearing retainers helps to ensure that the teeth stay in place while the muscles, gums, tissues and bones adjust around the teeth’s new positions.
There are many types of retainers available now, but probably the most popular one is the Clear and Invisible retainer.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Retainers
Advantages:
- It fits snugly over the teeth, fitted snugly because they are specially made for you, thus keeping the teeth very snugly aligned
- They often tend to be more comfortable to wear than those with metal wires as their edges are smooth, which provides less irritation for the gums.
- They are less visible because they are made of transparent plastic. Thus, you can wear them and people might not notice them.
- They are removable, so there is less discomfort when eating. This also allows for better brushing of teeth.
- They are designed to provide as little interruption to your daily activities as possible.
- They tend to look after both the gums and the teeth during treatment.
- They could also serve as teeth whitening trays
Disadvantages:
- Because they are made of plastic, they tend to be delicate and more prone to cracking or breaking if mishandled.
- This might not be suitable for patients who clench or grind their teeth (bruxism), as this action could produce cracks or small holes on the retainers.
- As they are usually less bulky and made from translucent plastic, they tend to be more easily misplaced or lost especially when removed while eating. Or, as they can be wrapped with tissue paper, they might be forgotten and mistakenly thrown out.
- Caring for them is more tedious than other types of retainers, because they tend to have special cleaning instructions.
- They might be more expensive than the other types of retainers.
