Shift happens: helping patients retain their smiles

Many orthodontic patients successfully get through their treatment only to neglect the next important part of treatment; wearing their retainer.

Now, for patients who get the permanent retainer this is less of a problem. But for those who take the removable option, neglect and forgetfulness can undo so much good work.

After all, wearing the retainer is what keeps patients from relapsing, and so maintain the quality of their treatment.

Two ways to help prevent relapse are: patient education and high-quality retainers. Retainers are part of orthodontic treatment, so patients will always finish up with that at the end of the treatment.

Choosing the right material for retainers helps them to last longer and therefore provide more value to patients.

The need for patient education comes at the patient’s regular dental check-ups. It is important to remind patients who have a retainer to bring them to their appointment. This allows their dentist to assess the quality and integrity of the retainer.

Especially since, on average, removable retainers need to be replaced every 6 months to 2 years. Or, if the quality of the material is good—and the patient does not grind their teeth, and takes care of the retainer—they can last 5 to 10 years.

Pros and Cons of removable retainers

Removable retainers often need to be worn day and night immediately after orthodontic treatment. And then always at night after about three months.

Disadvantages of removable retainers

The biggest disadvantage of removable retainers is that they are easy to lose because they are transparent. The other disadvantage is that they rely on patients to use them.

How many times have you heard a patient say, “oh, I forgot to wear them for a couple of nights,” but their teeth say they forgot to wear them for considerably longer than just a couple of nights?

The other disadvantage is they don’t last as long as permanent retainers.

Advantages of removable retainers

They are great for protecting against tooth grinding, and they hold the patient’s teeth in the exact position the orthodontics moved them to.

Another big advantage is that they are less expensive to replace compared with other retainer options.

If the patient does genuinely only lapse for a couple of days, wearing a removable retainer can help move the teeth back into their proper position.

At this point you might be wondering why we are telling you what you already know. Well, it is because the only disadvantages to a removable retainer revolve around the patient’s use of them.

For dentists and orthodontists, as long as you are sourcing the best material, removable retainers are one of the best options you can provide your patients.

Tru-Tain DX Aligner/Retainer Material

As a dental professional, you want to provide your patients with the best removable retainer. And that means finding material which combines extra impact, durability, wear resistance, and strength. It should also be latex and BPA free.

When you purchase retainer material from Tru-Tain, our materials adhere to the highest standards, are FDA approved, and provide greater value than many other products currently on the market.

Our retainer material comes in a range of shapes and gauges, and we offer bulk purchases for those dental clinics and orthodontic practices who fabricate plenty of retainers in a 6-month period.

Because we here at Tru-Tain believe so strongly in our product, you can call us today for free samples so you can make up your own mind.

If you have any questions, or would like to order retainer material, please contact us today.

META DATA

Meta-title: How You Can Help Your Patients Retain Their Smile

Meta-description: Helping your patients retain their new straight smile can be as simple as ensuring they wear removable retainers made of the highest quality materials.