Retainers

    Retainers are used after you have had your teeth straightened to ensure that they remain in their new straight position. It essential that retainers are worn as recommended by your Morwenna Dental Care dentist in Bude, in order to ensure you continue to enjoy your new, straighter smile.

    There are 2 main types of retainer available:

    • Bonded retainers 
    • Removable retainers

      Bonded retainers

      A bonded retainer is fixed/bonded to your teeth and is not removable. It is fixed to the inside of your teeth so it is completely discrete. As bonded retainers are a permanent fixture, your teeth will stay in their new positions and will not be able to move back to where they were before. Bonded retainers do not require any special looking after, they are very easy to clean. You will simply need to brush your teeth as normal to make sure they stay clean.

      • Discrete
      • Minimum pain
      • Easy to clean
      • It is fixed so you can’t forget to put it back in
      • The patient has to carry on attending check-ups to make sure that the retainer is still fully functional

        Removable retainers

        Removable retainers can easily be taken out by the patient. The removable retainer functions in the same way as bonded retainers but they are not as discrete. 

        We recommend that you wear your retainer for 20-22 hours a day, and that you only take it out to eat, drink and brush your teeth.

        • Easy to clean
        • Retainer has to be removed to eat and drink
        • Have to remember to put retainer back in after eating or teeth will begin to shift back into their original positions
        • Retainer is visible to others

        Your local Bude dentist will discuss your need for retainers, and advise how long you should wear these each day (for removable retainers). Should you have any other questions, please get in touch on 01288 352340.

          Related FAQs

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          Orthodontics

          Who can benefit from orthodontic treatment?

          At Portman, we have treated thousands of patients, aged from eight to 88 years old. There is never a point in life where we cannot move healthy crooked teeth into their ideal positions.

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          Orthodontics

          Why are my teeth not straight?

          There are many causes of overcrowding, gaps and crooked teeth. For some people it can be inherited or possibly acquired, either due to a habit (sucking of the thumb, prolonged use of a dummy), or because of the premature loss of milk teeth or adult teeth.

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          Orthodontics

          What can be treated?

          Orthodontic treatments have evolved enormously over the last 20 years. Now problems such as gaps between the teeth, crowded teeth, overbite (upper teeth covering the majority of the lower ones), open bite (upper and lower teeth almost don’t touch) and cross bites can all be treated.

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          Orthodontics

          What will the impact of orthodontic treatment be?

          Orthodontic problems can have a profound impact on a person and their social and professional life. Depending on the extent of a problem, you might even be too self-conscious to smile. Effective orthodontic treatment not only improves your appearance, but also goes a long way to improving your self-confidence.

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          Orthodontics

          Should teeth be straightened for health reasons?

          The correction of poor dental positioning also improves oral hygiene, as crowded or crooked teeth are often hard to clean properly. With such an improvement, the risk of gum disease for example – which can result in loss of teeth in extreme cases – is prevented.

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          Orthodontics

          What other benefits does teeth straightening offer?

          Orthodontic treatment improves chewing efficiency by re-establishing the correct relationship between lower and upper teeth, removing the difficulty you may have when chewing certain kinds of food, and so providing better nutrition.

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          Ortho Patient, Kettering

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