Clear aligner and Clear Retainers look very similar but the difference is in its purpose and its thickness. The purpose of Clear aligners is to align teeth while Clear retainers are for retaining or stabilising the corrected teeth. Clear retainers are thicker in material.
Retainers for teeth are worn mainly to “retain” the position of teeth as they are corrected after Orthodontic therapy or to prevent further proclination of teeth. The 2 basic designs are
1) With metal wire and plate (Hawley’s retainer: Fig 1), Begg retainer
2) Clear retainers are transparent plastic retainers also known as Clear Essix retainers.
What are Retainers?
Retainers after braces work by holding the teeth in place. It is prescribed for the duration of the retention phase by your Orthodontist (depending on the type of Orthodontic correction)
The other classification of retainers are:
- Fixed or permanent retainers: Fixed retainers are wires bonded behind your front teeth( 4-6 teeth). They are called permanent because, in some conditions, they are permanently bonded to teeth. But there is nothing to worry about because they won’t cause any irritation or pain.
- Removable retainers: As the name suggests, these types of retainers can be removed. Removable retainers are Hawley’s retainer, Begg’s retainer, Clear retainer,etc.
For further clarification, feel free to visit Dr. Bobby’s Orthodontics & Dental Specialty Care for your orthodontist consultation.
If you ask me the best retainers after orthodontic therapy, I would say they are the removable retainers with plate and wires( Hawley’s retainer or Begg’s wrap-around retainers). It is mainly because they are more durable. Along with fixed retainers, you can wear them only at night.
Difference between Clear Aligners and Retainers
Clear aligners are invisible braces which help align your teeth, They are transparent( aesthetic), removable, and comfortable. Many people get confused between clear aligner and clear retainer. That is not very surprising because it looks very similar. But once you have a feel of it or wear it, you will realise the difference. As mentioned earlier, Clear retainers are very thick and hard whereas Clear aligners are thin and very flexible.
Maintenance or cleaning of aligners and retainers are similar. After removing it, clean it with a separate toothbrush and soap (some companies provide aligner cleaning foam). After cleaning it, wash it properly and wear it. Always remember to clean it daily.
I hope the common misconceptions regarding Clear retainers and aligners have been cleared. Mainly the material, thickness and flexibility are the major differences. Always consult the best dental clinic, so that you can get a better understanding of clear retainers and clear aligners.
Commonly asked Questions
- Can you straighten teeth with just a retainer?
Certain minor gaps(less than 1mm) can be corrected with removable retainers like Hawley’s retainer and it should be worn full time. Clear retainers cannot help correct minor gaps. Retainers cannot help straighten teeth as they are removable and a constant continuous force is required to correct malpositioned teeth which is not possible with retainers.
- Is it compulsory to wear a retainer after treatment?
Yes, an old age rule or Newton’s Law applies here. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Our body tissues (like gums or bone) around teeth tend to go back to their old state and they pull the teeth back to that old position. This is exactly why we have to use retainers after orthodontic treatment. In our body any sort of cosmetic treatment also comes with measures to retain the cosmetic change. Likewise, Orthodontic therapy is also a cosmetic treatment and measures need to be taken to retain the correction obtained by it. Hence retainers are very important.
- Can I use my aligner as a retainer?
A very common doubt. It can be used for a brief period, but clear aligners tend to discolour after 14 days, whereas clear retainers do not discolour very easily and are more durable. So clear aligners cannot be used as a retainer for a long time.
- Is a Clear retainer the same as Clear Aligner braces?
Clear retainer is different from clear aligner. The purpose of Clear aligners is to align teeth while Clear retainers are for retaining or stabilising the corrected teeth. Clear retainers are thicker in material. Also Clear retainer cost around Rs 5000/- onwards, whereas Clear Aligners cost around Rs 60,000/- onwards ( depends on the lab and materials cost and treatment duration)