At the end of your KiyoClear treatment your doctor may recommend a bonded retainer to hold your teeth in place.
Bonded retainers are small wires that are bent to conform to the shape of the backside (lingual) side of your teeth and held in place with dental composite. Bonded retainers are popular because they hold your teeth in place without you having to do anything.
After orthodontic treatment you are prone to relapse, your teeth migrating back to their old positions. This is especially true during the first three months. Your periodontal ligament is elastic and may want to “snap back” into its old position. The way to stop this from happening is to use either a bonded retainer or a removable retainer to hold your teeth in place while the periodontal ligament remodels.
Why should you consider a bonded retainer instead of a removable one?
- They are great at preventing relapse after orthodontic treatment
- You don’t have to remember to wear it. Bonded retainers are permanently fixed to the back of your teeth, so they work 100% of the time.
- It's completely hidden. Unlike removable retainers, no one will see it unless you show them it's there.
- Eating and drinking are not impacted by a bonded retainer. You don’t have to worry about taking it out and putting it in the next time you go to a party.
- You can’t lose it.
What is the downside?
- You will need to be extra diligent about brushing around the bonded retainer and be sure to keep it clean.
- You can’t floss with regular dental floss. You will need to use small dental brushes to clean in between your teeth.
- Some hard, crunchy foods can dislodge it, so you will need to be mindful that it’s there when you are eating.