Retainers compared

The three types

Retainer	Strengths	Weaknesses
Fixed bonded wire	Works without being remembered; excellent for lower front teeth	Needs flossing under it; can debond quietly and go unnoticed
Clear vacuum-formed	Discreet, comfortable, holds the full arch including rotations	Only works if worn; wears out every few years; warps in heat
Hawley	Very durable, adjustable, lasts many years	Visible front wire; bulkier against the palate

The common combination is a bonded wire behind the lower front teeth, where relapse is most likely, with a clear retainer worn at night on the upper arch.

Looking after them

• Rinse in cool water after wearing. Never hot water, and never a dishwasher — heat distorts clear retainers permanently.
• Brush gently with a soft brush and water. Toothpaste scratches the plastic, and scratches hold bacteria.
• Soak occasionally in a retainer cleaning solution rather than in mouthwash.
• Case, always. Napkins and pockets account for most losses, and dogs account for a startling share of the rest.
• Check a bonded wire with your tongue every so often. If a section has lifted away from a tooth, call.

The day one breaks

Call the clinic within days, not weeks. Teeth begin drifting within a fortnight of retention stopping, and a replacement made promptly still fits. Left for six months, the replacement may need minor tooth movement first, which turns a simple visit into a short course of treatment.

If you have a pair, wear the other one meanwhile. If a bonded wire has come off one tooth, do not pull at it — wear your removable retainer if you have one and get in soon.

Retainers and the first year of retainer checks are included in the treatment fee here. The wear schedule is covered on debond and retention.