Why retainers matter

When braces or aligners come off, the teeth are straight but the fibres and bone around them are still settling. Left alone, teeth tend to drift back towards where they started, and they keep shifting slowly throughout life. A retainer holds them where treatment put them. It is the cheapest part of orthodontics and the part that protects everything else.

The two kinds

  • Fixed retainers: a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth. Nothing to remember and invisible from the front. It needs careful cleaning, with floss threaders or interdental brushes, and an occasional check that it is still firmly attached.
  • Clear removable retainers: a thin, clear tray made from a scan of your teeth. Taken out to eat and clean, and worn as your clinician directs, usually every night in the long term.

Many people have both: a fixed wire on the lower front teeth and a clear retainer at night. Which suits you depends on how your teeth moved, how your bite sits and how likely you are to wear a removable one.

Retainers after treatment at Align

Your retainers are part of the written orthodontic quote, so the number you are given covers keeping the result as well as getting it. Orthodontic treatment at Align is planned by Dr Anand Srinivasa, who has 26 years in orthodontics, and the retainer plan is set out before your braces or aligners come off.

Lost, broken or suddenly tight

A tight retainer means the teeth have already started to move. If it still seats fully, keep wearing it, because it is now doing a little corrective work, and call us promptly. If it no longer fits, or a fixed wire has come loose, book in before the teeth move further. Waiting a few months can mean re-treatment instead of a simple replacement.

Had braces somewhere else, or years ago? Call us. A quick look tells you whether a new retainer will hold your teeth where they are, or whether they have moved enough to need a short course of treatment first.

What a replacement costs

In Sydney, a replacement removable retainer commonly costs $150 to $450, depending on the type. A loose fixed retainer can often be re-bonded. Your price is quoted in writing before anything is made, and orthodontic extras cover may contribute, depending on your policy. More detail in our guide to retainers after braces.