Retainers and Vivera: Information from your Markham Orthodontist

One of the most important aspects of your Toronto Invisalign or braces treatment is going to be your retainers. Following any orthodontic care at your Markham Orthodontist, you will need to do something to maintain that beautiful smile. The answer to the amount of time retainers need to be worn is "as long as you want your teeth to stay straight" :).

Our patients have a number of different options for retainers. For our Invisalign patients, we generally recommend Vivera retainers or Invisalign retainers. For our fixed braces patients, we usually recommend a combination of fixed retainers with a removable retainer. Here are some of the options:

Fixed lingual wires
Pros
-don't have to think about taking retainers in and out
-teeth attached to intact wires will not move
-no one can see them

Cons
-only holds teeth they are attached to
-wires require flossing with a floss threader, ie more difficult to maintain
-cannot bite down on front teeth without risk of breaking retainer; if broken, teeth may shift without knowing
-still need removable retainer nightly to maintain posterior teeth

Invisalign aligner retainers or Essix Style retainers
Pros
-excellent aesthetics
-retain all teeth in the arch
-made off your ClinCheck without need for a new impression if you had Invisalign treatment
-no adjustment period since they are the same as all aligners during treatment

Cons
-may need to replace every 3-6 months
-must remember to wear nightly

Traditional Hawley or Circumferential retainers
Pros
-longevity- can last several years
-ability to make small movements by bending wire in certain situations

Cons
-bulkiness
-poor aesthetics
-nightly wear required
-cost of replacement if lost or broken

Vivera retainers
Pros
-can be made off last Clincheck stage or with new impressions
-sturdiness
-superior aesthetics
-minor relapse can be corrected by wearing this retainer full time
-subscriptions can be ordered to defray cost of ordering individual retainers, and after the first retainer, the rest can be mailed to you
-reordering is as simple as a phone call to the orthodontic office as digital impressions are stored

Cons
-replacement required after 9-12 months
-need for nightly wear

Take a look at Dr. Tam's video on Vivera for more information.