Each one of your adjustment sessions with Dr. Mo applied a modest amount of tension to the periodontal ligaments anchoring your teeth into their sockets. Each adjustment brought you teeth one step closer to the winning smile you will soon enjoy.
After your braces have been removed, there will still be some residual tension in the ligaments. If it’s not countered in some way, your teeth could come out of alignment. To prevent this from happening Dr. Mo will fit you for one of three different types of retainer.
A Hawley-style retainer is the most common type of retainer we recommend. It is essentially a thin, tongue-shaped piece of acrylic, custom fit to the shape of your mouth. The retainer is secured in your mouth by a set of wires that lock into specific teeth.
A clear plastic retainer might be called for if you only needed braces for a short period of time. The clear plastic material making it hard for the casual observer to notice you’re even wearing a retainer.
If your braces were needed to provide a significant amount of realignment, your orthodontist might recommend installing a fixed retainer. This is even more likely if your front teeth were severely out of alignment. It’s basically a durable wire retainer cemented in place behind your teeth.
If you are due to have braces removed soon and you have a question about retainers, you can always call Dr. Mo’s office in Prosper or Colleyville, TX at (469) 850-5555 [Prosper] or (817) 581-4031 [Colleyville] to ask a question.