What is a retainer?
A retainer is an orthodontic appliance worn after braces or clear aligners to keep the teeth in their new position.
According to the glossary of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), a retainer can be fixed (bonded to the teeth) or removable, and it is fitted when the braces come off or at the end of clear aligner treatment. Unlike braces, a retainer is not meant to move teeth: its job is to hold them where treatment has put them.
Most patients wear braces for 12 to 24 months, according to the AAO. Moving the teeth is only half the work: keeping them straight afterward depends largely on the retainer.
Why you need a retainer after braces
Orthodontic treatment works on a simple biological principle: when steady pressure is applied to a tooth, the bone around it is gradually removed on the pressure side and rebuilt on the opposite side, so the tooth moves. Once the braces come off, the fibers and bone around the teeth still tend to pull them back toward where they were.
This relapse is common and does not mean the treatment failed: it reflects the natural behavior of the tissues around the teeth. Without a retainer, teeth tend to move back partly, and gaps that were closed can reopen. This is why the retention phase is part of the result, not an option. Read more about how to keep teeth straight.
Permanent vs removable retainer: which is better?
There are two families of retainers. A Cochrane review of retention methods found too little high-quality evidence to recommend one type over another (Littlewood et al., 2016), so the choice is made case by case with the orthodontist.
| Criterion | Permanent (fixed) retainer | Removable retainer |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A thin wire bonded behind the front teeth | A clear plastic tray, or a wire-and-acrylic (Hawley) retainer |
| Wear | Works all the time, nothing to remember | Works only when worn as instructed |
| Cleaning | Needs careful cleaning between the teeth around the wire | Taken out to eat and brush; the retainer itself must be cleaned |
| Common problems | The wire can come unglued or break | Can be lost, cracked or warped, and wears out |
| Visibility | Hidden behind the teeth | Clear trays are discreet; a Hawley wire shows in front |
Some patients have both: a fixed retainer behind the lower front teeth and a removable one for the upper teeth, or a removable retainer at night on top of a fixed one. "Permanent" describes how the retainer is attached, not a guarantee that it will last forever: a fixed retainer still needs regular checks.
How long do you have to wear a retainer?
How long and how often to wear a retainer is decided by the orthodontist; according to the AAO, a retainer is generally needed for life, although it is worn less often over time. The path usually looks like this:
01
Right after braces come off
The retainer is fitted and you receive precise instructions on when to wear it. This is the stage when the teeth are most likely to shift, so follow the schedule closely.
02
Over the following months
At follow-up visits, the orthodontist checks stability and adjusts how often the retainer should be worn. A Cochrane review found no evidence that full-time wear of a clear retainer is more stable than part-time wear.
03
For the long term
Retention is usually lifelong, often at night only, as the orthodontist instructs. Fixed retainers are checked at regular dental visits.
Regular follow-up at a dental clinic in Jerusalem is part of retention: the condition of the retainer, the stability of the teeth and the need for adjustments are checked at each visit.
How to care for your retainer
1. Cleaning
Clean a removable retainer every day with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. Avoid hot water, which can warp it, and alcohol-based or bleach cleaners, which can damage the material. Once a week, you can soak it in a dedicated retainer cleaning solution, following the manufacturer's or orthodontist's instructions. With a fixed retainer, clean carefully between the teeth around the wire, as your dentist shows you.
2. Storage
When the retainer is not in your mouth, keep it in its hard, ventilated case. Never wrap it in a napkin or tissue: it is easily thrown away by mistake and can stay damp. Keep it away from heat and direct sunlight, and bring it to your check-ups.
3. When to replace it
How long a removable retainer lasts depends on its type, the quality of the material and how it is used: soft retainers tend to wear out faster than rigid ones. Signs that it needs replacing include marked discoloration, cracks, holes or warping, or a retainer that no longer fits. If in doubt, ask your orthodontist.
4. Eating and drinking
Do not eat or drink anything other than water while wearing a removable retainer. Take it out before meals, and brush your teeth before putting it back in.
Examination, treatment plan and price quote
detailed and personalized
During the consultation, Dr Haim Aseriel examines your teeth, explains all the options and gives you a transparent price quote, with no obligation. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street, Jerusalem.
Does a retainer hurt?
A new retainer can feel tight for the first few days, but this is usually mild pressure rather than real pain. The same tight feeling can return when a removable retainer has not been worn for a while, a sign that the teeth have started to move. Minor irritation of the tongue or gums can occur at first; orthodontic wax on a rough spot helps. A precise, custom fit reduces discomfort.
Sharp pain, a sore that does not heal, a broken wire or a retainer that no longer fits are reasons to call the clinic rather than forcing the retainer in.
Lost or broken retainer: what to do
Contact your orthodontist promptly: the longer you go without a retainer, the more the teeth can shift. Keep the broken pieces and bring them to the visit. If a bonded retainer wire comes loose, do not try to glue or cut it yourself; book a visit so it can be checked and repaired.
Retainer, headgear, night guard: the Hebrew word רסן
If you are an English speaker in Israel, you may hear the Hebrew word רסן (resen) used for several different appliances. A retainer that holds teeth after treatment is often called רסן ייצוב or simply ריטיינר (retainer). The same word can also mean:
Headgear and fixed functional appliances
Headgear is worn outside the mouth, attached to a neck strap (cervical) or a head cap (high-pull), to guide jaw growth in growing children and teenagers; fixed appliances such as Herbst or Forsus bring the lower jaw forward to correct a Class II bite. According to a Cochrane review, early treatment of prominent upper front teeth reduces the risk of injury to those teeth compared with a single course of treatment in adolescence (Batista et al., 2018). See also protruding teeth and protruding jaw.
A "night retainer" for teeth grinding
A night guard for bruxism is sometimes called a "night רסן". It is a different appliance: it does not hold or move teeth but protects them from wear, and it does not cure the grinding itself.
At what age? Headgear and functional appliances are used mainly in growing children and teenagers, while a retainer is worn at any age once treatment ends. The AAO recommends a first orthodontic check-up for children no later than age 7, because some bite problems are harder to correct once all the permanent teeth are in; that visit is not necessarily the start of treatment (AAO). See when to see an orthodontist.
Retainer cost, receipts and insurance
The clinic does not publish a price list: the cost of a retainer depends on its type (fixed or removable), the number of arches and whether it is part of a full orthodontic treatment or a replacement. You receive a written estimate after the consultation, held in English if you prefer, and itemized receipts that you can submit to your insurer; coverage depends on your policy. The clinic is at 12 HaTnufa Street in Talpiot, south Jerusalem, open Sun 8:00–19:00 · Mon 9:00–19:00 · Tue–Wed 9:00–21:00 · Thu 8:30–21:00 · Fri 8:00–14:00.
Retainers: frequently asked questions
How long and how often to wear a retainer after braces is decided by the orthodontist. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), a retainer is generally needed for life, although it is worn less often as time goes by. A Cochrane review found no evidence that wearing a clear retainer full time keeps teeth straighter than wearing it part time.
A permanent (fixed or bonded) retainer is a thin wire glued behind the front teeth: it works all the time without the patient having to remember it, but needs careful cleaning around it. A removable retainer, either clear plastic or wire and acrylic, is taken out to eat and clean, and works only when it is worn as instructed. A Cochrane review found too little high-quality evidence to say one type is better than the other.
If you stop wearing your retainer, your teeth tend to drift back partly toward their original position. This relapse is a natural tendency of the tissues around the teeth, not a sign that orthodontic treatment failed. If your retainer no longer fits, contact your orthodontist rather than forcing it in.
A removable retainer should be replaced when it cracks, warps, becomes heavily discolored or no longer fits the teeth. How fast it wears depends on the material and how it is used: soft retainers usually wear out faster than rigid ones. A retainer that no longer fits needs a visit to the orthodontist.
Clean a removable retainer daily with a soft toothbrush and lukewarm water. Avoid hot water, which can warp it, and alcohol-based or bleach cleaners, which can damage the material. A retainer cleaning product can be used as directed by the manufacturer or the orthodontist. When it is not in your mouth, keep it in its hard, ventilated case.
Sources
- American Association of Orthodontists, Glossary of Orthodontic Terms – View source
- American Association of Orthodontists, Retainers – View source
- American Association of Orthodontists, Braces – View source
- American Association of Orthodontists, When Should a Child First See an Orthodontist? – View source
- Littlewood SJ et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016 – View source
- Batista KB et al., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018 – View source
- Manfredini D et al., Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2015 – View source
