808-485-2444An orthodontist like Dr. Erik TinHan will often use braces or clear plastic aligners to address misaligned permanent teeth. These orthodontic treatment methods are designed to apply progressive tension to the periodontal connective tissues that anchor your teeth into your gums.
Once your teeth attain their ideal alignment, there will still be a mild amount of latent tension in the periodontal connective tissues. If it isn’t addressed it could cause your teeth to relapse out of their new orientation.
To prevent this from happening Dr. Erik TinHan will provide you with some form of retainer. This is typically done immediately after your braces have been uninstalled.
A Hawley-style retainer is the most common method for preserving the alignment of the upper teeth. It consists of a special orthodontic acrylic incorporated with strong wires that help hold the retainer with specific teeth.
A single area required significant realignment Dr. Erik TinHan need to install a fixed metal retainer. It is essentially a strong metal band cemented behind the teeth to ensure they remain in their corrected position.
If your teeth only needed a minor amount of correction, he might be able to provide you with a clear plastic retainer.
If you are in the Pearl City, Hawaii, area and you have a question about retainers, you can call 808-485-2444 to speak to one of the orthodontic specialists at TinHan Orthodontics.