ORTHODONTIC RETAINER

The biologic aims to be considered when choosing a retainer,are
- maintenance of periodontal support,
- maintenance of optimal oral hygiene and
- maintenance of functional forces on all the teeth.

Commonly Used Retainers
Removable Acrylic Retainers
These include Hawley retainers, wrap around retainers and Barrer retainers and are constructed from a wire framework and acrylic baseplate. They can be modified for active tooth movement by activating the labial bow or by incorporating springs. They are routinely worn full time for three to six months, part time for one year to 18 months, followed by continued wear twice a week.

Bonded Retainers
These fixed retainers are constructed from .0195” or .0175” multistrand stainless steel archwire. An indirect technique is used to adapt the wire passively to a working model. The retainer is attached to the lingual surface of the teeth using floss or a specially constructed jig and is bonded in position using a light-cured composite resin. Care should be taken to clear the occlusion during placement in the maxillary arch. Excess bond on the lingual surfaces and at the gingival margins should be carefully removed, and the area polished giving smooth even surfaces which are easy to clean

Positioners
Positioners are elastomeric or rubber removable retainers that are either preformed or custom made. Preformed positioners are available for bicuspid extraction cases and non-extraction cases. Sizes are determined by measuring the mesiodistal dimensions of the six anterior teeth. These preformed positioners cannot compensate for individual variation in the size of the teeth, arch width, arch form or tooth size discrepancies. For these reasons, they should only be used temporarily