Great news: your braces can come off! That’s an exciting moment you’ve probably been looking forward to for a long time. But… we’re not completely done yet. Now begins an important phase of your treatment: keeping your beautiful result stable. For this, we use a retainer wire (bonded retainer) and an Essix retainer.
A retainer wire is a thin metal wire that we place on the back of your front teeth. You cannot see it, but it plays a very important role: it helps keep your teeth in their corrected position. Even though your teeth look perfectly straight now, they naturally tend to shift back toward their old position. The retainer wire prevents this from happening.
The Essix retainer is a transparent, removable tray that fits exactly over your teeth — similar to a night retainer. We create it specifically for you, so it fits comfortably. Most of the time, you’ll wear the Essix retainer at night. It works together with the retainer wire to guide your teeth during the post-treatment phase, giving them time to become truly stable in their new position.
The retainer wire and Essix retainer complement each other: The retainer wire mainly keeps the front teeth perfectly aligned. The Essix retainer supports the entire dental arch. By using both, we minimize the risk of relapse — meaning your teeth shifting out of alignment again. And that’s exactly what we want: a long-lasting, beautiful smile.
After placing the retainer wire and giving you your Essix retainer, we schedule several follow-up appointments. Why?
During these check-ups, we make sure everything is still in good condition. If we notice anything that needs attention, we can act quickly before it affects your teeth alignment.
Does your Essix retainer no longer fit well? Or does your retainer wire feel different? Don’t wait for your next appointment – feel free to contact us. We’re happy to take a look and help you.
