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Orthodontic Retainers in Severna Park, MD

Reviewed by Dr. Benjamin Wright, board-certified orthodontist

A retainer holds your teeth where treatment put them. Teeth are not set in concrete. They sit in bone, held by fibers that keep a memory of where they used to be, and for the first year or two after braces come off, that memory pulls. A retainer makes the result permanent. It is also the least demanding part of the whole process.

Dr. Benjamin Wright, a board-certified orthodontist, chooses the retainer that suits your case and your habits, and we review it at every checkup.

The Three Kinds of Retainer

Pink Hawley retainer with an acrylic base and a thin front wire at Wright Orthodontics in Severna Park, MD

Hawley Retainers

The classic design. A thin wire crosses the front teeth, attached to a custom acrylic base molded to the roof of the mouth or behind the lower teeth. It is removable, repairable, and by far the most durable option. A well-treated Hawley retainer lasts years rather than months. There are two trade-offs. The front wire shows a little when you speak, and speech takes a few days to adapt. The advantage is adjustability. If a tooth drifts slightly, a Hawley can often be tweaked rather than remade.
Clear plastic retainer molded to fit closely over the teeth at Wright Orthodontics in Severna Park, MD

Clear Retainers

A clear retainer is a thin transparent shell molded to fit exactly over your teeth, similar in appearance to a clear aligner. Nothing shows, which is why most patients ask for this one first.

The trade-off is service life. The plastic thins with wear and is vulnerable to heat and night-time grinding. Clear retainers therefore need replacing more often than a Hawley does. If you clench or grind, tell us when we plan retention, because it changes what we recommend.

Fixed Retainers

A fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded to the back of the front teeth, usually the lower ones. It is invisible from the front and it never gets forgotten, which is its real advantage. For patients who had significant crowding or spacing, it is often the most reliable way to hold the result.

Cleaning takes more work, since floss has to be threaded under the wire rather than snapped between the teeth. Never adjust or trim a fixed retainer yourself. If the wire comes unbonded or feels sharp, call 410-544-0072 and let us handle it, as with any orthodontic emergency.

Many patients end up with a combination: a fixed retainer on the lower front teeth, a removable one for the upper arch.

3D illustration of a fixed retainer wire bonded behind the lower front teeth at Wright Orthodontics in Severna Park, MD

Looking After It

Rinse a removable retainer whenever you take it out. Effervescent tablet cleaners are the best way to keep them clean.  Do not use a tooth brush and toothpaste as this will damage the retainer.

Keep it away from heat. Hot water, a dishwasher, or a car dashboard in July will warp a clear retainer permanently.

Use the case. A retainer wrapped in a napkin at a restaurant ends up in the trash, and one abandoned on a side table gets chewed by the dog. Those two situations account for the majority of retainers we replace. Bring yours to every checkup so we can inspect the fit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Orthodontic Retainers

Find answers to common questions about orthodontic retainers, including the different types, how to care for them, and how they help maintain your beautiful smile after treatment.

Goal is 12 Hours /day for the first 3 months, then every night. We say retainers are ‘night time for a lifetime’. 

The type decides it. A Hawley retainer, treated well, lasts several years and can often be adjusted rather than replaced. Clear retainers wear thin faster, particularly if you grind at night, and are replaced more frequently. Bring yours to checkups and we will tell you when it is nearing the end.

Call us right away. Teeth can start shifting within a few days without retention, so a lost retainer is worth a same-week phone call rather than a “next time I am passing” one. If you still have an older retainer that fits, wear it until we see you.

Yes. We regularly make retainers for patients treated by other practices, including adults whose teeth have already shifted. If the movement is significant, we will tell you honestly whether a retainer will hold things as they are or whether some correction is needed first.

Retainers After Treatment Anywhere

We fit retainers for patients whose braces were placed elsewhere, including people who finished treatment years ago and want to stop further movement. Call 410-544-0072 or request an appointment online. Wright Orthodontics is at 479 Jumpers Hole Road, Suite #203, Severna Park, MD 21146, serving Severna Park, Millersville, Crownsville, Arnold, Severn, Pasadena, and Cape St. Claire.