A retainer is an orthodontic device that is designed to help teeth «retain» their new position. Teeth move throughout our life and without a retainer, the teeth will shift again. A retainer is designed to keep the teeth where the previous braces/aligner treatment moved them.
Your teeth will tend to move back into their old positions in the months after the braces are removed. To prevent this, wear the retainers for a few months after the dental braces are removed.If you have difficulty saying certain words due to the placement of teeth, a retainer can help in forming the sounds correctly.
They can also correct a speech impediment called tongue thrust where the tongue finds its way through the teeth when you talk. You can use a special retainer called a tongue cage to prevent this. It will further guide the mouth with the correct pronunciation.
