What Makes Braces Different from Retainers
Article By Remarkable Smiles
Many people will immediately notice the parallels between retainers and dental braces. Both are metal-based orthodontic appliances that work to maintain your smile’s alignment and straightness. Retainers, however, are functionally and aesthetically different from dental braces.
An orthodontist has cemented traditional, ceramic, or lingual braces to your teeth and tightened them to apply constant pressure to your smile. Although initially uncomfortable, this procedure is essential to straighten up crooked or misaligned teeth. You will need the assistance of your orthodontist to remove dental braces unless you are using clear aligners.
Retainers, on the other hand, are less invasive and typically worn following dental braces therapy. Retainers are easy to maintain and simple to take out, facilitating eating and tooth brushing. Retainers are made of softer materials like acrylic, flexible polyester, or translucent plastic, as opposed to the more durable materials used in dental braces, including metal or aluminum oxide. transparent plastic retainers closely resemble Invisalign braces or transparent aligners. Metal retainers are also an option, but they still perform differently from dental braces.
Retainers are made to hold your teeth in place rather than causing gradual tooth movement. For this reason, orthodontists recommend them for usage following dental braces treatment. While your gums recover from the pressure that braces put on them, retainers keep your teeth in their freshly straightened position.
You can get assistance from Dr. Mark Rashidi and the Remarkable Smiles team in deciding between braces and retainers. He is an orthodontist in Laguna Hills who treats patients from Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Irvine, and other cities. Dr. Mark has a lot of expertise using several kinds of treatments, such as ceramic, traditional metal, and Invisalign.