Fixed retainer
A thin wire bonded behind the front teeth. It cannot be seen from the front and works all day without you having to remember it. It needs careful cleaning around it.
Treatments · Retainers
Retainers, to keep your result.
Teeth can drift back after braces or aligners. Retainers hold them in their new positions, and they are part of every treatment plan.
What it is
Retainers, in plain words.
After treatment, the gums and bone around the teeth need time to settle, and teeth can keep moving slowly throughout life. A retainer holds the teeth where treatment has put them.
Dr Amna recommends the type of retainer, and how long to wear it, based on your case. Long-term wear, often at night, is usually advised.
Types
Three types of retainer.
Dr Amna explains which option fits your teeth and your daily life at your assessment.
Essix (clear) retainer
A clear, removable tray made to fit your teeth. Discreet, and usually worn at night once the teeth have settled.
Hawley retainer
A removable acrylic plate with a wire across the front teeth. It can be adjusted, which makes it useful while baby teeth are still being replaced (mixed dentition).
Some photos: Fachlabor Dr. W. Klee GmbH (CC BY-SA 4.0). Others: Dr Amna's clinic, Unsplash and Pexels. Full list in credits.
When it is used
Who it may suit.
If your retainer is lost or broken, book promptly: teeth can start to move within weeks.
- After braces
- After clear aligner treatment
- After early (first-phase) treatment in children
- To replace a retainer that is lost, broken or no longer fits
Steps
What to expect.
Every mouth is different. Whether this treatment suits you, how long it may take and the fee are confirmed only after an in-person assessment with Dr Amna.
- Fitting. Retainers are fitted when the braces come off or the aligner treatment finishes, often on the same day.
- How to wear it. Dr Amna tells you how many hours a day to wear a removable retainer, and when it can move to night-time only.
- Daily care. Brush a removable retainer gently with cool water, keep it in its case, and keep it away from hot water and pets. Clean carefully around a fixed retainer.
- Reviews. Check-ups to make sure the retainer still fits and the teeth are holding.
- Replacement. Removable retainers wear out over time and are replaced when needed.
Questions
Common questions.
How long do I need to wear my retainer?
For most people, wearing a retainer is long term, often at night. Dr Amna gives you a plan for your case at the end of treatment.
What if my fixed retainer comes loose?
Contact the clinic as soon as you notice it. A loose or broken fixed retainer can usually be repaired, and doing it promptly helps stop the teeth moving.
Will I need a retainer after treatment?
Yes. Teeth can drift back towards their old positions, so almost everyone wears a retainer after braces or aligners. Dr Amna will explain which type you need and how long to wear it.
Other treatments
Where
Two clinics in Dubai.
Book at whichever clinic is easier for you.
Jumeirah
Invisalign Center, Jumeirah
697 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 2, DubaiPhone: 800 1011Hours: 10:30am–7:30pm
WednesdaysAl Warqa · Wednesdays
Smilepoint Medical Center, Al Warqa
Aswaaq Mart, Al Warqa 3, DubaiPhone: 056 433 9994Hours: Wednesdays 12:00pm–8:00pmBook
Ready for an assessment?
Message the clinic on WhatsApp and tell us which treatment and clinic suit you. The team will confirm a time with you.