early treatment wake raleigh NCAt Wake Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, we know you will want to keep your new, healthy smile in awesome shape once your braces come off. After you’ve had your braces removed, it’s common to wear a retainer for a certain length of time to maintain your orthodontic gains. We offer several types of retainers to maintain your smile. This month we will investigate the benefits of the fixed or permanent retainer.

What Is a Permanent Retainer?

A permanent retainer is fixed to the inside surface of your teeth and is not removable. Usually, the orthodontist places permanent retainers for patients who have not stopped growing. Patients under age 25 may require permanent retainers until their growth is complete so there is minimal regression in their bites and teeth alignment.

Our orthodontists may decide to keep a permanent retainer in place even after age 25 for some patients, as it helps guarantee your teeth will stay in place properly and not revert to pre-treatment patterns. However, if a dental issue is detected (as permanent retainers require careful brushing and flossing), it may be necessary to remove the permanent retainer.

What are the Benefits of a Permanent Retainer?

After your commitment to wearing braces and achievement of a lovely, healthy smile, you will most certainly want to maintain your look. There is a tendency for young people who have worn braces to become very busy with college and jobs and lose sight of how critical it is to wear a retainer every night to keep their perfect smiles.

The following are some advantages to choosing a permanent retainer:

  • One of the greatest advantages to having a permanent retainer is that people won’t realize you are wearing it in day-to-day social or professional interactions. It’s common to place permanent retainers on the back side of the teeth, which makes them invisible to others.
  • You won’t need to worry about forgetting to put your retainer in, packing it for trips, or losing it, which are common issues for patients with removable retainers.
  • With a permanent retainer, you needn’t worry about speaking with a slight speech impediment — a frequent “side effect” of wearing a removable retainer.
  • The fixed retainer is small, comfortable and rests behind the central lower teeth. It retains your lower alignment all day, every day.

If you are about to have your braces removed, a permanent retainer is one of the retention options to consider to maintain that great smile.

How Wake Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry Can Help

To learn more about permanent retainers and whether one may be right for you, please schedule an appointment online or contact us at (919) 719-1780. At Wake Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, patient education is very important to us. We are always happy to discuss your questions and concerns.