What’s the Difference Between Braces and Retainers?

When our children have misaligned teeth, typically, we think that they need retainers or braces. It’s not uncommon to see children have them at such a young age. But what’s the difference between the two?

Being an orthodontist in Fairfax, Virginia for years, we’ve been asked this question countlessly. Oftentimes, it’s been used interchangeably, which is a common misconception.

Therefore, we’re here to provide you with simple and clear information on the difference between braces and retainers.

Retainers

Retainers are used to help maintain the teeth’s alignment achieved by the use of braces. The duration of its usage and whether it’s removable or not varies from case to case. This is usually prescribed by the orthodontist.

There are two types of retainers, mainly the permanent and the removable.

Permanent retainers are commonly used for patients who have just finished a significant orthodontic procedure and need extra security for the teeth to settle into their new locations. The orthodontist will glue a wire at the back of the teeth that have undergone the procedure and use a bonding agent to secure it in place.

For removable retainers, as the name implies, the patient can remove this during treatment hours and remove it to eat, brush their teeth, or during other times instructed by the orthodontist. There are two types of removable retainers: the Hawley retainer and Essix retainers. If you want to know which one will best suit your situation, you can ask an orthodontist in Fairfax, Virginia.

It’s also best to warn you that if a user is unable to consistently use their retainer after months of getting their braces removed, it can cause a relapse. This means that there’s a possibility of their teeth getting misaligned again.

Braces

Braces, on the other hand, align teeth by applying continuous pressure over a period of time by slowly moving the teeth in a specific direction. While the teeth move, the bone also changes shapes as the pressure is applied.

On average, the duration of its usage is one to three years, but this will also depend on the situation of your teeth.

There are also different types of braces, which are the traditional metal braces, self-ligating braces, clear (ceramic) braces, and clear aligners.

Traditional metal braces are the ones you might be most familiar with. They straighten the teeth using metal brackets and archwires. The fun part of this type of braces is that you can pick the colored elastics used to keep the wire in place.

Unlike the traditional metal braces, self-ligating braces don’t use elastics to keep the wire in place. It uses a specialized clip to help the archwire guide the teeth into place. This also means that it applies less friction to your teeth. At the same time, wearing self-ligating braces requires fewer dental appointments.
Ceramic braces, on the other hand, are made of clear materials, so it’s less visible compared to the ones mentioned above. However, since the appliance is mainly made of ceramic, it’s crucial to maintain proper hygiene because it’s larger and more brittle compared to other metals.

And lastly, clear aligners align the teeth using a series orthodontist of removable and invisible acrylic trays. This is more comfortable compared to the other braces mentioned before. There are no restrictions in terms of the food and drinks you need to consume, and the great thing about it is that you can floss hassle-free.

Does your little one have a problem with their bite, speech, or teeth alignment, in general, that may require them to use any of the appliances above? Visit Shohreh Sharif, D.D.S & Associates P.C. today. Our orthodontist can attend to you as soon as they can.


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