---
title: "What Is Retainer? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "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."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/retainer
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

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](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/orthodontic-relapse), [braces](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/braces), and [clear aligners](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/clear-aligners), or our page on [teeth straightening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/teeth-straightening).

[Town Center Dental can helpTeeth Straightening](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/teeth-straightening)

## Related terms

-   [Orthodontic relapse](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/orthodontic-relapse)
-   [Braces](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/braces)
-   [Clear aligners](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/clear-aligners)
-   [Orthodontics](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/orthodontics)
-   [Night guard](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/night-guard)

## Sources

1.  [ADA MouthHealthy: Braces](https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/braces)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)