Orthodontics
Retainer
A retainer is a custom-made appliance worn after braces or clear aligners to hold the teeth in their new positions and help keep them from shifting.
Teeth tend to drift back toward where they started. A retainer helps stop that. The ADA says braces are followed by a period of wearing a retainer that holds teeth in their new positions. Some retainers are removable plastic trays or wire-and-plastic devices. Others are thin wires bonded to the back of the front teeth. Your dentist will tell you when to wear it, often full time at first and then at night. Keep it clean, store it in its case, and bring it to checkups. Without a retainer, relapse can occur. See orthodontic relapse, braces, and clear aligners, or our page on teeth straightening.