The final phase of orthodontic treatment is called retention when the bracesand wires are removed. The purpose of retention is to maintain the corrected alignment of teeth achieved during the active phase of treatment. During active tooth movement, the gum and bone tissue around the teeth move or “remodel” to their new positions. Sometimes, the teeth may align more quickly than the soft and hard tissues around them remodel. Therefore, teeth may appear to be straight, but once braces are removed, teeth generally relapse quickly back to their original misalignment. Retainers are used during this phase of treatment to keep the teeth straight and allow time for the soft and hard tissues around the teeth to remodel. Because human bodies are constantly changing, many patients will need retainers throughout life. The only method to maintain the alignment throughout life for many patients may be the consistent use of retainers. Your orthodontist will inform you how long your retainers should be worn. Below are just some general guidelines. Removable retainers such as Hawley-type and Vacuforms should be worn full time (20-24 hours) for 3-9 months. After that period, night time only wear is recommended. Fixed or Permanent retainers should remain for at least 2 years or until growth has completed. Most patients end their adolescent growth spurt by the age of 18-25. After two years, the fixed retainer can be replaced by a removable retainer the patient just wears at night. Rather than change the fixed retainer to a removable retainer, many orthodontists that place fixed retainers will often leave the fixed retainer in as long as there are no problems associated with it. There are three general types of retainers which are Removable Hawley-type retainers, Removable Vacuform “Invisible” retainers, and Fixed or Permanent retainers. Each type has their strengths and weaknesses. Your doctor will discuss which type is best for you. Hawley-type retainers are removable retainers that clasp onto the teeth. Hawley-type retainers consist of a hard plastic that covers the tongue-side of the teeth combined with a wire in the front of the teeth that holds the teeth in place. It is the recommended appliance for patients that have undergone expansion and is very durable. Vacuform or “Invisible” Retainers are removable retainers that cover all teeth with a clear plastic. It is called a vacuform retainer because when it is made, a vacuum is used to suck the plastic onto the mold of the teeth. It is an excellent retainer in holding spaces closed and is a good cosmetic retainer option. Due to the thin esthetic plastic, this retainer deteriorates at a faster rate than other retainers and will need to be replaced more frequently. Fixed retainers are customized wires that are bonded onto the back side of the front teeth. It is less bulky than other retainers. These retainers are excellent for maintaining the position of incisors at the end of treatment. Extra care must be taken to brush and floss between teeth to prevent future dental problems. Food and bacteria can adhere to any retainers placed in the mouth just like your teeth. For removable retainers, please use a toothbrush to remove debris from the retainers. Soaking retainers in denture cleaner (Efferdent) or retainer cleaning solutions (Retainer Brite) will also help loosen debris. Never boil or microwave retainers as the plastic will melt and deform from its ideal shape. Flossing and brushing is the best method to clean fixed retainers. Retainers can be misplaced or broken. Replacement costs for retainers vary based on the complexity and laboratory time needed to fabricate a new retainer. If you have misplaced or broken your retainer call your orthodontics provider as soon as possible to have it replaced. If you wait too long, your teeth may shift and you may need braces again.Length of Retainer Wear
Types of Retainers
Removable Hawley-Type Retainers
Removable Vacuform Retainers
Fixed / Permanent Retainers
Maintenance and Cleaning
Cost of Retainers
Valplast dentures, manufactured by Valplast International Corporation, are partial dentures consisting of artificial teeth and a Valplast flexible thermoplastic nylon resin appliance shaped to look like a person's palette and gums. As the resin doesn't break or wear away easily with normal use and cleaning, taking care of your Valplast dentures primarily requires that you rinse and clean the dentures regularly to deter bacterial growth, food particle buildup, and staining. Remove your Valplast dentures after every meal and rinse with warm water. Place your dentures in a container filled with Val-Clean denture cleaner. Soak for at least 15 minutes each day or approximately eight hours at night three times a week. Return your dentures to the storage container when not in use and fill with water or Val-Clean so that the denture material doesn't dry out.Instructions
Since antiquity, the most common material for false teeth was animal bone or ivory, especially from elephants or hippopotami. Human teeth were also used, pulled from the dead or sold by poor people from their own mouths. These kinds of false teeth soon rotted, turning brown and rancid. Rich people preferred teeth of silver, gold, mother of pearl, or agate. In 1774 the French pharmacist Duchateau enlisted the help of the prominent dentist Dubois de Chemant to design hard-baked, rot-proof porcelain (a hard, white ceramic) dentures. De Chemant patented his improved version of these "Mineral Paste Teeth" in 1789 and took them with him when he emigrated to England shortly afterward. The single porcelain tooth held in place by an imbedded platinum pin was invented in 1808 by the Italian dentist Giuseppangelo Fonzi. Inspired by his dis-like of handling dead people's teeth, Claudius Ash of London, England, invented an improved porcelain tooth around 1837. Porcelain teeth came to the United States in 1817 via the French dentist A. A. Planteau. The famous American artist Charles Peale (1741-1847) began baking mineral teeth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1822. Commercial manufacture of porcelain teeth in the United States was begun, also in Philadelphia, around 1825 by Samuel Stockton. In 1844 Stockton's nephew founded the S. S. White Company, which greatly improved the design of artificial teeth and marketed them on a large scale. Porcelain is no longer used because better materials have been developed. Today, dentures are made from either plastic or ceramic. These materials can be tinted to match existing teeth and look more like real teeth than ever before. In 1756 Philip Pfaff (1715-1767) of Germany introduced plaster of paris impressions of patients' teeth. This made it possible to produce dentures that perfectly fit. The real breakthrough in dentures came with the American inventor Charles Goodyear's (1800- 1860) discovery of vulcanized rubber in 1839. This cheap, easy-to-work material could be molded to fit the mouth and made a good base to hold false teeth. Well-mounted, properly sized dentures could now be made inexpensively. The timing was ideal. Horace Wells (1815-1848) had just introduced painless tooth extraction using nitrous oxide. The number of people having teeth removed skyrocketed. This created a great demand for good, affordable dentures, which Goodyear's invention made possible.
Improvements in Fit and Comfort
A denture isn’t supposed to last forever.
With or without teeth, your mouth slowly changes as you age. But people who have noteeth on average lose 1/3 mm of jawbone height each year. Sometimes that loss is greater due to certain medical conditions such as osteoporosis. As our jawbone shrinks, so do our gum tissues (sometimes referred to as ridges). Ridges can shrink up to a quarter-inch in 10 years!
Your denture was made to fit firmly to the original shape of your oral anatomy. Now that shape has changed.
Often you don’t notice the gradual receding of your gum tissues. But over time, your dentures loosen and become unstable, affecting you in any of a number of different ways. This is why dental professionals suggest you replace or refit your dentures every 5 to 7 years.
When teeth are lost and gum tissues shrink, some facial support is lost. This explains why people with no teeth often have deep wrinkles around the mouth and a sunken look to their cheeks and lower face.
To summarize, here are symptoms that may indicate the need for a denture reline or a new denture:
• On-going pain or sore spots
• The appearance of extra wrinkles around your mouth
• Your dentures click, whistle, slip or cause chewing problems
• Slurred speech
• You need to routinely use denture pads
• You or your loved ones begin to feel uncomfortable with the appearance of your dentures.
Even if you are not experiencing any of these difficulties, dental experts recommend you visit your dental professional annually. These visits give your dental professional a chance to give you an “oral check-up.” This is your dental professional’s opportunity to make sure you don’t have any symptoms of diabetes, oral cancer, gum disease or other diseases that often reveal themselves in the tissues of the mouth.
Your dental professional might recommend repairing or relining your existing denture. Many times, dental professionals have no choice but to recommend a new denture. If so, you may be surprised to discover how attractive today’s teeth are. They are also less likely to wear or discolor. And modern denture base materials (the pink material supporting teeth) are very strong and durable.
And a new denture may:
• Help you look better by providing the support your lips need, and by giving your face and smile a more natural appearance.
• Help you speak clearly once again.
• Enhance your chewing ability, helping your body properly digest food and obtain the nutrition it needs.
• Help you feel better about yourself.
Following is a list of possible causes for problems most often encountered by people who wear dentures. If you are suffering from any of these problems, or especially from a problem not listed here, call your dental professional.Common Denture
ProblemsCommon Causes / Solutions Denture slipping
and movingDue to shrinkage of jaw bone and surrounding gum tissue, the gums and bone do not support the denture in speaking or chewing -- Reline, rebase or replacement per a dental professional’s recommendation. Speaking difficulties and unwanted sounds,
such as “clicking,
whistling, smacking…”Denture is not in proper position or does not stay in proper position -- denture moves causing cheek and tongue to struggle to form words and control the denture -- Reline, rebase or replacement per a dental professional’s recommendation. Difficulty chewing
certain foodsSome foods may never be ‘easy to chew’ with dentures, but lack of adequate chewing could be related to the alignment of your upper and lower denture(s), or your denture with natural teeth, this effects the “balance” of the denture on the tissues and muscles of the mouth. In combination with shrinkage of tissue, poor alignment creates improper denture function. Only a dental professional can determine the best solution(s). Lack of suction /
adhesionBone and mouth tissue shrinks – original fit/contact of denture is lost;Dry Mouth (Xerostomia); caused most often by certain medications; without proper saliva, denture fit is not ideal due to the “seal” that moisture provides between denture base and tissue. Discuss with your dental professional. Wrinkles above /
around lips or at
corners of mouthDenture has moved back in the mouth and no longer supports the lips. This may be due to bone loss and / or loss of skin elasticity (stretchiness) and moisture loss. See your dental professional to help determine the root cause. Sore spots in the
mouthPressure and / or rubbing is occurring in one specific area, usually a result of chewing (see Difficulty chewing certain foods) but may also be due to clenching of teeth or bruxism (grinding the teeth). Other causes may be hard foods (like small seeds) getting under the denture or denture teeth that need adjustment. Your dental professional can help resolve the problem. Soreness at corners
of mouthLoss of vertical support for the denture (bone loss) can cause the mouth to “over-close.” This can change the way the lips seal together and cause saliva to pool at the corners of the mouth. The excess moisture in this area may cause the skin to become irritated and may increase the risk of a candida (fungus) infection. The soreness may also be the result of a vitamin deficiency. Seek advice from your dental professional.
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