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.

Richmond Hill Braces Orthodontist Answers: Do I/ How long do I need retainers?

Your Markham braces specialist answers another common question about retainers.

Question: How long do I need to wear my retainer?

Answer: As long as you want your teeth to stay straight :).

Scientific articles published in the "American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics" show an enormous variation in how long you need to wear your retainers. These articles indicate that there is no way to predict how teeth may move without retainers. About half of the undesired tooth movement takes place in the first two years after you stop wearing your retainer.

The literature has conflicting information on the influence on wisdom teeth on crowding of teeth. Generally, orthodontists do not believe that wisdom teeth will be the cause or sole cause of malalignment after treatment. Still, it is generally recommended to have wisdom teeth taken out, as we have more than enough teeth for proper function, and this minimizes the possibility of complications from partially impacted teeth, such as acute gum infections, pain, and swelling.

Some crowding of the lower front teeth may be part of the natural aging process similar to greying hair and wrinkled skin. There are still pressures on the teeth after treatment, such as food, the tongue, grinding, and muscle tone. Unfortunately, everything in the world has a tendency towards disorder. Teeth are not an exception. As such, the only way to ensure continued satisfactory alignment is by the use of retainers to some degree, for life.

When it comes time to take braces off, our team of orthodontic professionals will discuss various retainer options with you. Generally, we place a fixed lingual retainer in the lower arch, and provide a removable retainer for the upper jaw. We also offer essix (clear-style mouthguard) retainers. Each option has its inherent and disadvantages, and we will try to find the options that best suit your individual situation.

Our Markham braces patients start off on a full time schedule of wearing retainers for the first few months. They then taper wear down about an hour per month until wearing aligners only at night. We advise our patients to wear retainers to sleep indefinitely. Many of our patients become accustomed to wearing retainers and feel that it is awkward if they go to bed without them! Let it be known that those who maintain straight teeth have a secret... they still wear their retainer!