A clear retainer

A clear retainer is a thin transparent tray, moulded to the teeth in their finished position and worn after orthodontic treatment. It is made from impressions or a scan taken once the braces come off, so that it matches the result exactly. It is removable, and from a short distance it is barely noticeable.

Why a retainer is worn

Teeth do not stay where they are put on their own. The fibers and bone around a tooth take time to settle in a new position, and until they do the tooth tends to move back toward where it started. That drift is gradual and easy to miss until crowding or a gap has returned, at which point the only remedy is to treat again. A retainer holds the result while the tissues adapt, and it is the part of orthodontic treatment that depends most on the patient.

How it is worn

The instruction given at the clinic is full-time wear over the first months after the appliance is removed, apart from eating and brushing, and at night from then on. Your orthodontist sets the schedule for your case, and it is worth asking rather than assuming, since the teeth that moved furthest are the ones most inclined to move back.

Looking after a clear retainer

Rinse it and brush it gently with cool water each time it comes out. Hot water distorts the plastic, so it is kept away from boiling water, hot drinks and car dashboards. Keep it in its case whenever it is not in the mouth: a retainer wrapped in a napkin at a restaurant is the one most often thrown away. Clear plastic dulls and stains with time and with wear, and a retainer that has cracked, warped or no longer seats fully should be replaced rather than persevered with.