Patients often think that treatment ends once braces or other orthodontic appliances are removed, yet in reality teeth have a tendency to return to their original position. This is precisely why a retainer is prescribed: it is an orthodontic appliance that holds the teeth in their current position and preserves the result that has been achieved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A retainer is one of the important stages of orthodontic treatment, which is why the experienced dentists at Primero devote as much attention to selecting and monitoring it as they do to treatment with braces and other types of appliances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A retainer is a special appliance used to hold the teeth in place once treatment has been completed. Its main purpose is to maintain the new position of the teeth and prevent them from shifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Retainers became established in orthodontics from the twentieth century onwards. Years of research and practical experience confirmed that, without a retention stage, the result achieved often cannot be maintained reliably. For this reason a retainer is today considered an essential part of orthodontic treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Initially, orthodontics mainly used removable metal appliances, which were effective but less comfortable and less aesthetic for patients. Over time, as technology and dental materials developed, retention systems were significantly refined as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Modern orthodontics makes active use of transparent trays, which are visually almost unnoticeable and cause the patient no discomfort at all in everyday life. Fixed retainers have also become widespread; these are bonded to the inner surface of the teeth and provide permanent stabilization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How long a retainer needs to be worn depends on various factors, among them the patient’s age, the condition of the teeth, the complexity of the orthodontic problem and the likelihood of the teeth shifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In complex orthodontic cases, or when the teeth have a strong tendency to return to their original position, a retainer may need to be used for a longer period. The patient’s age also matters, since the process by which tissues adapt differs with age. This is exactly why the treatment plan is individual for each patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On average, the retainer-wearing period ranges from several months to several years. As a rule, the first 6 to 12 months are the most important: during this period the retainer is often used daily or almost constantly. At the next stage a removable retainer is frequently prescribed, which the patient usually wears only at night. Treatment with a fixed retainer, meanwhile, may continue for 5 to 10 years or even longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Primero, one of the leading dental clinics in Tbilisi<\/a>, we monitor the patient’s treatment process with the help of the latest technology, assess the tendency of the teeth to shift and take other important factors into account both before prescribing retainer treatment and afterwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat types of retainer are there?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n