Orthodontic Retainers in Kansas City, MO
Teeth straightening is very important to us at Smile Palace in Kansas City, MO. It helps us give our patients the smiles they want while protecting them from the complications of overcrowded teeth or problems affecting their bite. Visiting a dentist near you for orthodontic retainers in Kansas City, MO, following braces removal should be a priority.
At Smile Palace, we understand that getting orthodontic retainers near you after braces might not sound like an attractive idea. Rest assured that we’ll do our best to make you comfortable. Hundreds of thousands of people live with retainers and don’t experience any problems.
Why Are Retainers Important?
Braces or clear aligners are worn to straighten your teeth. Your dentist in Kansas City, MO, might recommend orthodontic retainers after your braces are removed. Why is it important to get retainers? As their name implies, retainers are worn to preserve the results accomplished by aligners or braces.
Our teeth are constantly shifting. Even after wearing braces for several months, your teeth can start to shift if there’s nothing to hold them in their positions. Retainers are placed over teeth to keep them in their places once the original treatment, braces or aligners, is removed. Not all patients need retainers. If the bite abnormality was severe, the risk of your teeth shifting is higher, and retainers become recommended.
Types of Retainers
The two main types of retainers are fixed and removable. A fixed retainer is a metal wire that is found on the back of your teeth. It’s usually connected to your canines. Since it’s on the back of your teeth, it won’t affect the way you look, eat, or speak. You can forget all about it unless it breaks. Many patients live several years or their whole lives with permanent retainers without any complaints.
Removable retainers can be taken off and are usually worn while a patient sleeps. They’re easy to put on and take off. Speaking while wearing them might be difficult at first, but you’ll quickly get used to it. Patients shouldn’t eat with their removable retainers on.