Permanent Retainers: Pros, Cons, Costs, And Vs. Removable

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission or other tangible benefit. Optum Store, Optum Perks, and Healthline Media are owned by RVO Health. Here’s our process

Pros and Cons of Permanent Retainers

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS — Written by Valencia Higuera on December 20, 2019

About
vs removable
Considerations
If it's bent
Brush and floss
Takeaway

bearded man smiles up at light while seated in dental chair and dentist in gloves and medical mask talks to him

Permanent or fixed retainers are made of a metal wire that is glued to your teeth. Usually, this wire is smooth and solid or has a braided texture. It’s attached to your teeth and adjusted to your bite to keep your teeth from shifting or becoming crooked.

Permanent retainers are often recommended by orthodontists after braces to prevent your teeth from moving back to their original place.

Your orthodontist may also suggest one if you have difficulty adhering to their guidelines for removable retainers. But there needs to be a certain amount of tooth surface area for the bonding material to secure the retainer in place.

In many cases, orthodontists use a combination of both removable and permanent retainers for the best long-term results. But recent surveys of practicing orthodontists show that permanent retainers are becoming increasingly popular.

Removable retainers are typically used for the top teeth and permanent retainers on the lower teeth, but retainer use depends on what is best for your teeth.

Let’s get into how permanent retainers work, how they stack up against other retainers, and how to clean and maintain them to keep up your best smile.

About permanent retainers

Permanent retainers also go by the following names:

bonded retainers
lingual wire
fixed retainers

Permanent retainers are more commonly used on the teeth of the lower jaw.

The retainer is called a lingual wire because it’s glued or bonded to the back surface oof your teeth. It’s easier to securely attach the bonding material to lower teeth such as the cuspids (canine teeth) for effective long-term use.

The name “permanent retainer” indicates exactly what the device does: stays on your teeth permanently to keep them from moving. You may have a permanent retainer on your teeth for the rest of your life.

Your dentist or orthodontist may remove your permanent retainer if it irritates your gums or teeth or causes too much plaque or tartar buildup on the teeth around it.

How much do permanent retainers cost?

A permanent, or bonded, retainer may cost from $150 to $500 to put in place or replace if lost or broken. The cost of the initial placement may be included in the overall cost of your braces.

Permanent vs. removable retainers

Pros of permanent retainers

You don’t have to take it on and off, which makes it easier to keep your teeth in place after your braces come off.
No one else knows it’s there except you, because it’s bonded behind your teeth.
It has little to no effect on the way you speak, so you don’t have to feel self-conscious about wearing it in public.
You can’t lose it because it’s securely attached with dental glue.
It’s difficult to damage from normal everyday use of your mouth.
It keeps your teeth in place to help keep your teeth aligned, since the retainer is always in place.

Pros of removable retainers

You can take them out at any time, such as when you’re eating or cleaning your teeth.
It only takes 30 seconds to 1 minute to get an impression (mold) of your mouth to make a removable retainer that will last for years.
You can easily clean them by soaking them in one of the many types of cleaning solution available. This is highly recommended because bacteria can build up quickly on plastic removable retainers.
It’s easier to floss because you can take the retainer out.
Removable retainers may be better for upper teeth, since the lower teeth may bite on an upper fixed retainer. This can make the retainer less secure or damage it.

A permanent retainer may seem like a great alternative to a retainer you have to put on or take off all the time if you think it may be a challenge to use one for comfort or cosmetic reasons. Both retainer types have their strengths and limitations, however.

Drawbacks of permanent retainers

Here are some considerations and potential drawbacks of permanent retainers:

The procedure for attaching a permanent retainer may be long and uncomfortable. It can sometimes take up to an hour to bond a retainer to your teeth. All you have to do for a removable retainer is get a quick impression made that your orthodontist can use to fashion one that fits your mouth.
Brushing and flossing around a permanent retainer requires extra effort. Your risk of cavities and gum disease can increase if you don’t take the time to properly clean around your permanent retainer.
Having a metal object in your mouth all the time can be uncomfortable. Your tongue can rub against the wire. If the bond comes off or the wire breaks, your tongue may get irritated or scratched.
Eating some foods might change how effective it is. Biting into hard or tough foods, like a whole apple or a tough steak, can bend the wire out of shape. Foods high in artificial sugars or similar additives, such as soda, can also wear away at the bonding material, potentially loosening the retainer’s bond to the teeth.
The wire may break off or debond, requiring repair or replacement. You may have to pay a replacement fee to have a new one made.

»MORE:Get care for dental pain in as little as 15 minutes with Optum Now Online Care.

Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

What should you do if your retainer gets bent or moves?

For a retainer that’s bent or has moved, don’t attempt to fix the problem yourself. Applying too much pressure to the retainer can end up snapping the bonding material or wire and damaging your teeth.

If its shape is changed, the retainer won’t keep your teeth in their proper positions. If your retainer is bent or moves:

Make an appointment to see your orthodontist. If the retainer isn’t bothering you or injuring any other parts of your mouth, make an appointment as soon as possible with your dentist or orthodontist to have the retainer adjusted or repaired.
Call your dentist or orthodontist right away. If the retainer has broken off or injured another part of your mouth, see your dentist or orthodontist right away to minimize any further damage to your teeth, mouth, or retainer.
Check for emergency contact. Many dentists and orthodontists have an emergency line you can call or text in case of emergencies. Ask your dentist or orthodontist if they have one so that you can contact them for immediate help if your retainer breaks or injures you.

Cleaning your permanent retainer and teeth

Clean your retainer every day to keep it well maintained and to protect the teeth around the area.

Brush as you normally would, taking care to get your bristles in and out around all the crevices between the teeth so that no area gets neglected, especially areas near the bonded material or behind the wire itself.

Tips for flossing with a permanent retainer

Flossing is the real challenge with permanent retainers.

But it’s not too hard once you get the hang of it the first few times — here are some cleaning tips for flossing easily with a permanent retainer:

Use a 6-inch piece of floss along with a floss threader to shimmy the floss between two of your front bottom teeth, taking one end of your floss between your fingers and the other end in the threader.
When the floss is between the teeth, gently raise and lower the floss along the sides of the teeth from their tops to where they meet the gums. Don’t be too forceful or you may cut or injure your gums.
When you’re finished with one set of teeth, move the floss back up to the top of the teeth and slide the floss over to the next set of teeth.
Pull the floss down between the next set of teeth and repeat step 2 to clean between them.
Repeat these steps until you’ve flossed between each of the teeth that are secured by your permanent retainer.

You can find floss threaders online and in stores.

The takeaway

Permanent retainers can be a convenient alternative to having a removable plastic retainer, but they’re not for everyone.

Talk to a dentist or orthodontist (you can even get multiple opinions) about the options for your dental goals and needs, to see what’s right for you.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

2018 survey of dental fees (n.d.).https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/finances/survey-of-dental-fees
Al-Moghrabi D, et al. (2018). Effects of fixed vs removable orthodontic retainers on stability and periodontal health: 4-year follow-up of a randomized controlled trial. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajodo.2018.01.007
Albanna RH, et al. (2017). Microbial evaluation of the effectiveness of different methods for cleansing clear orthodontic retainers: A randomized clinical trial. DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27845562
Andriekute A, et al. (2017). A survey of protocols and trends in orthodontic retention. DOI:https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs40510-017-0185-x
Johnston C, et al. (2015). Retention in orthodontics. DOI:https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2015.47
Kacer KA, et al. (2010). Retainer wear and compliance in the first 2 years after active orthodontic treatment. DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21055599
Lai CS, et al. (2014). Orthodontic retention procedures in Switzerland.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24943474
Pratt MC, et al. (2011). Evaluation of retention protocols among members of the American Association of Orthodontists in the United States. DOI:https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.ajodo.2010.10.023
Retainers cost. (n.d.).http://health.costhelper.com/retainer.html
Taking care of your retainer. (2017).https://www.aaoinfo.org/blog/taking-care-of-your-retainer/
Understanding your treatment options. (n.d.).https://www.aaoinfo.org/orthodontic-treatment-options

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Archibald, DDS — Written by Valencia Higuera on December 20, 2019

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media