Once you complete your braces treatment, your orthodontist will make the decision between the fixed or removable retainer for you, but if you have been gifted the option to decided for yourself, it is crucial you do the proper research and take everything into account.
While their advantages may be quite clear on the surface, the pros and cons of both can make for murky water and make the decision-making process very difficult.
Removable Retainers
The more common of the two retainers are removable retainers. This is what most orthodontists opt for as well, not only for its benefits for an easy use in all situations but also for many more reasons.
First, the ease of use. When you are given a removable retainer, you will most likely be given a schedule you have to rigorously follow the first six months and then a much more relaxed for an indefinite amount of time. With this schedule, as you grow older you are allowed much more flexibility of when you use the retainer. It is unlikely you would like to wear a retainer while playing baseball during the day, so you can just wear it at night to still ensure your teeth are straight.
In addition to being easier to use, they are also much easier to replace. No matter which retainer you chose, the replacement costs are hefty, to say the least, so it is important to take care of the retainer. But, if anything were to happen to the hardware, it is much easier for an orthodontist to take another mold of your mouth to create a new rather than having to remove the retainer with wires and cement and then create a new one and install it again.
Fixed/Permanent Retainer
Despite what you may believe, fixed retainers are not uncomfortable at all. In fact, just like braces, after a few days, the awareness of the hardware in your mouth will be gone and never noticed again. With this, comes the obvious benefit of not having to worry about following a set schedule to keep your teeth straight. Instead, you just know that your teeth will be kept straight without work on your part.
However, if something were to go wrong with the fixed retainer, not only is it difficult to replace, but if left untreated for an extended period of time, the retainer can actually damage your teeth. This is a very rare occurrence, but if it were to happen to you, it will most likely result in a second round of braces. Remember, though, this would only happen if you left the broken retainer to sit in your mouth for months at a time.
Either option you decide to take, you have the assurance that your teeth will be kept straight and healthy. For more information regarding fixed or removable retainers, contact Beauty Smile Orthodontics today.