Aligners vs Retainers: Know the Difference
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Are you embarking on your smile correction journey but can’t tell the difference between retainers, braces and aligners? Oral care and smile correction can have really technical jargon which can be very intimidating for a beginner. While we understand that it can be a little confusing at first, anyone interested in perfecting their smile must know about retainers, aligners and the difference between the two!
What are Aligners?
Tooth Aligners are generally clear plastic trays made from 3D scans of your teeth. These are designed to direct the teeth into moving to a certain place through gentle and consistent force. Invisible tooth aligners today are very popular for their removable, almost painless and hassle-free experience in achieving the perfect smile.
Invisible aligners need to be worn for 22 hours or more every day and during the course, they move the teeth by 0.2mm. Every 1-3 weeks as prescribed by the orthodontist, these clear aligners are changed to apply more gradual force and as a result, create a wonderful smile.
What are Retainers?
A teeth retainer is generally a wired dental device used post orthodontic treatment or braces. A retainer is used to keep the corrected teeth in place post the removal of the traditional braces. The three main types of retainers are:
- Fixed retainers: A permanent set of retainers consisting of a wire binds the first 6 teeth and keeps them from budging.
- Removable retainers: Removable retainers are primarily clear and hence look similar to clear aligners. However, removable retainers, unlike fixed retainers, ensure that all your corrected teeth stay in position.
- Hawley retainers: A common retainer with a tongue-shaped design made of metal and acrylic. It is durable and can hold off minor movements of teeth.
Since they need to be worn soon after the braces treatment, users are often too relieved to be done with their braces to even try to wear retainers regularly. Another reason could be that since most retainers are removable, users tend to forget that they must be on for at least 22 hours to maintain the corrected teeth.
Aligners vs Retainers- A comparison
While it is common to mistake aligners for retainers and vice versa, the difference between these two is their purpose. Aligners are discreet plastic trays used to correct misalignments both minor and major. Hence, aligners are used to move the teeth with gentle force.
Retainers on the other hand stop teeth from moving and help maintain the position of the corrected teeth. This is the main reason why orthodontists prescribe retainers for post-orthodontic care. If you have just gotten your braces removed and are enjoying the sight of your perfect smile, make sure to check if you need retainers to preserve it too!
How to choose between aligners and retainers?
Wondering if you need aligners or retainers for your shifted teeth? Visit an orthodontist to understand your needs better. Both retainers and clear aligners are based on the 3D scan of your teeth. However, clear aligners are used to solve misalignments and retainers are used to maintain corrected teeth.
Simple shifted teeth cases can be corrected with clear aligners. However, if you have undergone orthodontic treatment in the past, it is best to visit an orthodontist and wear a set of retainers to keep your teeth in position.
Are you looking to get started on your smile makeOver? Be sure to check out makeO toothsi invisible aligners. They are clear, high-quality aligners made to correct several kinds of minor and advanced misalignment issues in your teeth to give you a perfect smile. Explore makeO toothsi’s affordable plans with EMIs starting at Rs.3019/month!
