What are retainers for?

At the end of orthodontic treatment, teeth tend to return to their original position. To prevent the correct alignment achieved through invisible orthodontics or braces from being lost, dental retainers must be used.

The alignment of teeth is achieved through the movement of the tooth through the bone. In this process, new ligaments are generated, and support bonds are created to maintain the position achieved after orthodontics.

To maintain the correct alignment once orthodontic treatment is completed, dental retainers must be used. Their goal is to minimize tooth movement and maintain dental corrections. As part of the protocol, at Pizarro and Montenegro Dental Clinic in Marbella, we use both fixed and removable retention methods to achieve this consolidation.

It is crucial to place retainers immediately after finishing orthodontic treatment because, as mentioned, teeth tend to move back to their previous position and misalign. The orthodontist will be responsible for instructing the placement of retainers to stabilize the teeth for as long as possible, thus avoiding positional changes. As part of the protocol, atPizarro and Montenegro Dental Clinicin Marbella, we use both fixed and removable retention methods to achieve this consolidation.

Removable retainers are the most commonly used, and they are very similar to the systems used with invisible orthodontics or aligners. We are talking about Essix retainers. This type of retainer is a transparent splint that fits perfectly to your teeth.

Fixed retainers are placed from canine to canine. They are placed on the lingual side of the lower teeth, and in most cases, on the upper teeth as well. In our clinic, we ensure that the dental retainers are aesthetic and easy to brush. These retainers are usually placed immediately after the orthodontics are removed. This way, we ensure that the teeth maintain their optimal position from the very first moment.