Clear retainers are perhaps one of the most widely known dental support equipment. Similar in looks to a small mouth guard that’s worn during sports, these clear plastic plates are worn at the very edge of the teeth to keep them in place.
As the name suggests, these plates “retain” the teeth’s position. It is done to make sure that any teeth that have been realigned through orthodontics solutions, such as Invisalign and lingal braces, do not fall out of their corrected position again.
Since clear retainers are very common, they could be obtained through any credible dental facility in Coral Gables or other locations, Florida. Keeping in line with its drive to provide holistic dental solutions under one roof, we also provides clear retainers to those who need them.
Who Needs Clear Retainers?
Clear retainers are typically worn by those who have had their teeth realigned. This realignment could have been done through various orthodontic treatments such as Invisalign and lingal braces.
Once teeth are realigned, they are prone to fall out of their corrected position. This happens due to natural movements of the teeth that occur when they put pressure on each other.
What Do Clear Retainers Do?
Clear retainers make sure that your teeth are safe from putting pressure on each other by separating them and keeping them in place while you sleep. That is why wearing them every day is important if you have had your teeth realigned at any point.
Clear retainers are worn during the night, where you need to wear them throughout your sleep. The more you wear them, the better your chances are of keeping your teeth in their current alignment.
How Long Do I Need to Wear Clear Retainers?
Almost all dentists, whether they specialize in orthodontics or cosmetic dentistry, make sure that their patients are wearing retainers every day.
It is because once any realignment is done, it leaves room for teeth to move naturally again. This movement almost always goes unnoticed even if you see yourself in the mirror every day. But overtime, it could result in major alignment issues, essentially undoing all the work that your dentist did for you.
When provided with your clear retainers, which are often especially made, your dentist asks you to wear them more them 12 hours a day (in some cases it is throughout the day). After a while, the hours required to wear retainers are gradually cut.
One would still need to wear the clear retainers for at least a few times a week, for the rest of your life. Think of it as an essential routine to keep your health and personal aesthetics in place. Just because you brush your teeth or floss everyday doesn’t mean the practice is redundant. As such, just because you have to wear retainers every day doesn’t mean that it is an unnecessary practice.
How Long Do Clear Retainers Last?
While you may need to wear your clear retainers for the rest of your life, it doesn’t mean that a pair of them, even when it’s especially made for you, could last a lifetime.
The average age for a pair of clear retainers can range from 2 to 10 years. But this number is highly dependent on a large number of factors. As such, it is essential that you discuss this with your dentist when you are being provided with your retainers.
How Can We Help?
As a dental practice that specializes in cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics, Miracle Smile can help you with all of your realignment and retainer adjustment needs.
Led by Dr. Anna Aller, the dental practice has been helping people in Coral Gables with its expert staff and their extensive experience. Specializing in preventive, cosmetic, implant, general and sedation dentistry, the dental facility could help you with an array of dental issues.
If you want to learn more about clear retainers or need your teeth to be realigned to get your perfect smile, feel free to contact us today. We will be glad to hear from you and answer any questions that you may have.