When you have had braces or aligners to straighten your teeth it may be suggested by your Orthodontist to have a bonded /fixed wire placed behind your front teeth.
Bonded retainers are an added assurance that front teeth will remain straight or gaps do not re-open. They are not for everyone and definitely DO NOT REPLACE the need for removable plastic retainers. If you do have a bonded wire, this generally only holds your front teeth. A Removable retainer holds ALL of your teeth and maintains the bite your Orthodontist has achieved for you. In most cases removable retainers when worn correctly are sufficient to maintain your beautiful results.
What are the considerations when opting for a bonded retainer?
Bonded retainers are definitely not for everyone. Upper Bonded wires are restricted to bites that allow one to be placed. When oral hygiene is an issue, especially with a pre-disposition to hard calculus deposits, a lower bonded retainer may be more detrimental than beneficial.
Having a bonded retainer placed requires continued care when eating by avoiding hard, chewy or sticky foods that may disturb the glue or bend the wire. Detailed attention should be paid to cleaning in order to minimise any calculus which can collect around the bonded wire and might damage teeth and gums.
This cleaning of the bonded retainer requires additional time and commitment. It is recommended extra cleaning products such as “Superfloss”, “Piksters” or an Interdental Irrigator (WaterPik, HydraPik or Air Flosser) be utilised.
A Bonded retainer is generally considered a medium term retention solution and can be in place (ideally 2-5 years). When special care is taken of the appliance it may last for prolonged periods and if not problematic, indefinitely.
Don’t forget: Bonded Retainers are not maintenance free. They come at an additional cost both at initial insertion and during replacement /repair. At some point it is likely that the bonded wire will fail, either due to a breakage or an oral hygiene issue. It is at this time an assessment will need to be made by a qualified professional (your Orthodontist) to help you decide whether to repair, remove or replace your bonded retainer.