Can Metal Retainers Straighten Teeth?
Maintaining a perfectly aligned smile is a dream for many individuals who have gone through orthodontic treatment. While braces do the heavy lifting and keep everything intact, metal retainers play an equally important part in maintaining all the efforts of your braces once they’re off of your mouth.
Apart from this holding and maintaining role, do metal retainers actively help you straighten your teeth? We come across this question very often. This guide will answer all your questions related to metal retainers. What are their limitations and how are they compared to other orthodontic aligning options? So, without any further delay. Let’s dig in!
Here’s What Metal Retainers Do
There are several types of retainers, but most people refer to them as Hawley retainers as they are the most prescribed in orthodontic treatments. They are made from a combination of acrylic or plastic and wires of metal that rest against the teeth and gums. Their main purpose is to prevent the teeth from reverting to their initial, misplaced positions.
Orthodontists recommend that retainers be worn constantly, especially within the first year following braces, as this is when teeth are most likely to shift. Retainers stabilize the surrounding bone structure and gums while teeth settle into their new positions. This is very important, as the bone does some kind of remodeling process after treatment. With time, the teeth get to be more secure in the new alignment, but this takes months, which is why it’s recommended to wear retainers for a long period.
Can a Fixed Retainer Straighten Teeth?
Let’s try to understand it this way, metal retainers can slightly move teeth but are not orthodontically designed to do so. The main objective of retainers is to help teeth maintain their place and avoid misaligning. Straightening capacities extend only to very slight shifts that may occur following braces or aligner treatments. These slight movements may only become evident when a patient stops wearing their retainers for some time and experiences gentle movements of the teeth. In such cases, re-wearing the retainer may help the teeth move back into their proper alignment.
However, if someone experiences a major shift within the teeth then the retainers will not be able to realign properly. This is because retainers do not apply the pressure needed to push teeth into place or move them around in a jaw. Orthodontic treatments, including braces or clear aligners, are necessary to address controlled pressure through bone remodeling that moves the teeth.
Here’s How Retainers Stop Teeth From Shifting After Braces
Although metal retainers aren’t made for aligning the teeth, they are used to prevent teeth movement once correction is achieved. It is at this point when relapse occurs; it is when there is gradual movement of the teeth back to their original positions. Eventually, the elastic fibers in the gums will pull out the teeth with no retainer worn. One of the important ways to avoid such common problems includes wearing your retainers according to the prescription of your orthodontist.
Some orthodontists recommend wearing retainers for life to maintain results. During the first few months, retainers are often worn full-time, transitioning to night use as time goes on.
Here’s What You Need to Know About Different Types of Retainers
While metal retainers are strong and long-lasting, there are other types of retainers that may be fabricated for post-treatment maintenance.
Hawley retainers (Metal Retainers):
This is the most used and most durable type of retainer. The metal wires in the Hawley retainers may get adjusted by an orthodontist to exert slight tension on the teeth as a contribution to minor adjustments.
Essix Retainers
These are small models made from crystal clear plastic, hence less visible. However, they may wear out more easily than metallic retainers and may require frequent replacements.
Fixed or Permanent Retainers
These are composed of a metal wire which is bonded to the back of the teeth and is intended for long-term use. Indicated especially for the prevention of shifting of the teeth, it does not allow any adjustment or active straightening.
Here’s Why You Need Regular Orthodontist Check-Ups After Braces
Even though one wears retainers regularly, it is important to go for regular orthodontist check-ups that will ensure that your teeth are aligned. Through this, your dentist will be able to tell whether your retainer is working and if any adjustments are required.
Even with wearing retainers regularly, there could be a major movement within your teeth. Therefore, regular checkups are important and they help you know if further treatments are required or not.
Here Are The Best Alternatives to Retainers for Straightening Teeth
If your teeth have shifted badly and braces don’t look like the ideal solution to fix them up then there are other treatments available:
Clear Aligners
Custom-made transparent aligners, such as Invisalign, exert controlled force in a definite direction to gradually move teeth into their proper alignment. These are discreet, effective aligners for minor and major adjustments.
Lingual Braces
Even though they are similar to traditional braces and work the same but they are placed behind the teeth, unlike traditional braces. They’re not visible at all and they are as effective as the usual and traditional braces.
Conclusion
While metal retainers can make minor adjustments, they cannot replace active orthodontic appliances like braces or clear aligners in the process of aligning teeth. Their main task is maintaining and preserving the end result after braces to make sure your smile remains aligned for a long period.
For anyone who wishes to correct misalignments, it’s really important that one sees an orthodontist so that you know what’s actually going on with your teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Metal Retainers Move Teeth Back After Shifting?
Metal retainers can correct very slight tooth movement, but they basically come in to keep the teeth aligned rather than actively moving them. If your teeth have shifted significantly, a metal retainer will not be in a position to reposition them, and you may need braces or clear aligners for proper correction.
How Long Should I Wear a Metal Retainer Every Single Day?
Initially, orthodontists may indicate that a metal retainer needs to be worn full-time, about 22 hours daily for the first few months after treatment. Often this is relaxed over time, you can just wear them while sleeping.
How do I correctly clean my metal retainer?
Clean your metal retainer by gently brushing it with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste or mild soap every day. Avoid hot water, which might warp your retainers. You can soak them in a cleaning solution for retainers on occasion to give them an extra-deep clean but do follow instructions over the long term from your orthodontist.
What if I stop wearing my metal retainer?
If you don’t continue wearing your metal retainer, then your teeth will very likely start misaligning once again. This happens via a process called relapse, where the elastic fibers within the gums can potentially pull the teeth back toward their old positions. Therefore, it is very important to wear retainers as instructed, even after years of orthodontic treatment.