Why Retainers Are Essential

If you’ve had your smile realigned, either with a dentist or at home, you want to keep it looking as stunning as the day your treatment was completed. Retainers are a simple yet effective orthodontic accessory. Slip them over your teeth, and they help prevent the minor shifts and movements that can result in a misaligned smile.

Innovative ortho-experts have driven forward the development of retainers, leveraging new technology and materials to enhance comfort and effectiveness.

Creating a More Natural Look and Feel

Wire and plastic retainers have two major disadvantages: they look distinctly unnatural in your mouth and can feel harsh and unpleasant against your teeth and palate. In recent years, clear retainers have become the popular choice because they let the beauty of your natural smile shine through. They’re also perfectly fitted to your teeth, utilizing advanced techniques like SmileSet’s patented Comfort-Edge method.

Some retainer manufacturers are exploring methods such as additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, to produce retainers faster than ever before.

Advanced Materials

Clear retainers are more than just transparent versions of their wire predecessors. BPA-free materials have emerged as safe, durable alternatives to steel or other metals used in wire retainers. BPAs, though durable and lightweight, have been linked to some health concerns. Expert retainer manufacturers have developed ways to utilize safer materials that offer additional comfort while maintaining strength and structure.

Some retainer developers are also exploring ways to produce retainers using more sustainable methods. All orthodontic accessories carry an environmental impact, from the resources used to make them to the fact that they need regular replacement. Reducing energy consumption during the manufacturing process is one way to curb this. Another way to cut waste is by helping people purchase their retainers at the right time, rather than too early.

Advancements are also occurring in the ways people care for their retainers. Specialist tablets with effervescent properties help remove stubborn food particles and other sources of bacteria. There are now even retainer cleaners that harness the properties of sound. Ultrasonic retainer cleaning devices use precise vibrations to produce crystal-clean results and support a healthier mouth.

At-Home Impressions Kits

Once upon a time, getting a retainer fitted meant a lengthy session with an orthodontic expert. You’d have had to put aside time for travel to the dental office and the appointment itself. With most people busy with work, school, or family life, that’s simply not always an option.

Enter the at-home retainer impression kit. If you’re happy with your smile, you can take an impression using specialist trays and dental putty. The putty is designed to hold the impression of your teeth firmly until an expert can record it for your dental file. You can do this whenever it’s convenient for you, rather than being beholden to the opening times of a local dentist.

SmileSet offers an easy-to-use retainer impression kit that works for new customers or those concerned that their teeth have shifted. There’s a quick guide on making a good impression so you can quickly take an impression of your teeth and send it back. Once received, the team crafts retainers with the utmost precision to ensure they match your teeth perfectly. You receive your new retainers directly to your door. Just pop them in, and they will get to work maintaining your beautiful smile.

Subscription Retainers

One of the most exciting aspects of orthodontic innovation is the ability to get replacement retainers that are perfectly fitted to your mouth on a subscription basis. Retainers don’t last forever—in fact, dental experts recommend you get a new retainer every six months.

There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, retainers subtly change shape over the many months you use them. Chewing and other mouth movements warp and stretch the retainer until it’s not as effective as keeping your teeth in line as it was when it was brand new.  

Secondly, small fissures can appear due to wear and tear. If ignored, these may develop into cracks or even chips that quickly become uncomfortable. These tiny cracks can be the perfect hiding place for bacteria, meaning your aging retainer isn’t as hygienic as it once was.

Thankfully, if you’ve had your teeth realigned, setting up a retainer subscription is easy. Your dental records are on file, so producing an identical retainer every few months is simple—and provides comfort, hygiene, and peace of mind.

Take advantage of orthodontic innovation from the comfort of your home. SmileSet delivers professional-grade retainers without the professional markup. Pursue your smile goals: contact us or sign up for your recurring retainer replacement subscription.