Permanent Retainers: Everything You Need To Know

When your orthodontist removes your braces brackets or you take out your last clear aligner, you may think your orthodontic treatment is complete. But there’s still one more crucial stage ahead: retention. Wearing a retainer is an ongoing part of maintaining your newly perfected smile.

Permanent retainers are a time-tested, long-lasting, and discreet retainer model. But are they the right aftercare option for you? That’s what we’re here to explore. In this guide, we’ll give you every important detail about permanent retainers, so you can decide if they’re a good fit for you.

What is a Permanent Retainer?

A permanent retainer (often called a “bonded” retainer) is of a small wire affixed across the lingual side of 4–6 teeth. Since this wire is behind your teeth, permanent retainers are a highly discreet aftercare option.

However, they’re also the only retainer option that you can’t purchase through online retailers. That’s because you need an orthodontist to bond the wire to your teeth with dental cement at an in-person appointment.

Permanent retainers are a highly convenient aftercare option. There’s a reason people describe this retainer model as “set it and forget it.” With permanent retainers, you won’t need to think about when to wear them or worry about misplacing your retainer, because it’s attached to your teeth.

Only your orthodontist can offer advice about your particular aftercare, but many doctors avoid using permanent retainers for both arches. They more frequently recommend a permanent retainer for a lower arch than an upper one, since your lower teeth can interfere with an upper permanent retainer.

Pros and Cons of Permanent Retainers

Permanent retainers have been a popular aftercare option for decades, but that doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for everyone. Here are some of their main advantages and disadvantages.

How Long Do Permanent Retainers Last?

Permanent retainers are the longest-lasting option in orthodontic aftercare. With proper care, permanent retainers can last over ten years, and even well beyond two decades.

That said, some people will still need their permanent retainers replaced. Typically, permanent retainer breakage is because of food. Since your permanent retainer is bonded to your teeth, you can’t remove it to eat. But unlike braces, permanent retainers don’t come with a long list of food restrictions. That said, it helps to know what can harm your appliance over time.

Biting into hard foods can put too much pressure on the bonded wire and potentially dislodge it. If you want to extend the lifespan of your retainer, it can help to cut hard foods into smaller bites. Eating a lot of artificial sugar can also negatively affect permanent retainers. Sugars can gradually wear away at the bonding agent attaching the wire to your teeth. Since sugar contributes to other oral health issues like cavities, it’s good to limit your consumption anyway.

How Much Do Permanent Retainers Cost?

Each orthodontist sets their own prices for their retainers, so the average cost can vary significantly. That said, typically you’ll pay $150–$550 per arch. If you have braces, it’s possible your orthodontist already included the cost of a permanent retainer in your initial quote.

If you have orthodontic insurance, it might help pay for your permanent retainer. If not, you can look into financing options, but just like the price tag, they vary between offices.

Are Permanent Retainers Noticeable?

Permanent retainers are perhaps the most discreet retainer option on the market, and they barely affect your speech. Since they sit on the lingual side of your teeth, they’re almost always out of sight. Someone might notice yours if you yawn or open wide to eat an enormous sub sandwich, for example, but most of the time, it’ll stay hidden.

Since the wire is small and unobtrusive, permanent retainers don’t change your speech nearly as much as Hawley or clear retainers. Though people usually get used to talking in their removable retainers over time, permanent retainers don’t require the same adjustment period. You may need to get used to the feeling of the metal near your tongue, but it shouldn’t impede your speech.

How Can I Keep My Permanent Retainer Clean?

Permanent retainers make it slightly harder to floss. Since the retainer wire reaches across several teeth, you won’t be able to slide floss in between those teeth as you did before. Instead, you’ll need to thread the floss beneath the wire. Fortunately, you can purchase floss threaders, which are inexpensive tools to help you slide beneath the wire with little hassle.

If you don’t want to use floss threaders, there are other ways to thread floss beneath your retainer manually. Your orthodontist can give you pointers in person, and YouTube has some excellent how-to videos if you want a refresher at home.

Once you finish flossing, you’ll move on to brushing. Permanent retainers don’t require a complicated brushing routine; just brush vertically against your retainer to reach below the wire, then use circular movements to clean the whole area.

Even though a permanent retainer can extend your daily oral hygiene routine, it’s important to keep the wire clean. Plaque and tartar accumulation around your wire can cause oral health problems in your teeth in gums.

Alternatives

Permanent retainers are a reliable, durable retainer model. But they aren’t the only option worth considering. Here, we’ll compare permanent retainers to the two other retainer models.

Permanent Retainer vs. Hawley Retainers

Hawley retainers are made of wire and acrylic, but unlike permanent retainers, they put the metal in full view. A wire runs across the front of your smile, wrapping around to meet an acrylic plate that rests on either the roof of your mouth or your lower arch. Hawley retainers typically last 5–10 years with proper care and cost $150–$550 per arch. You can purchase them through an orthodontist or select online retainer retailers.

Permanent Retainer vs. Clear Retainers

Clear retainers are thin plastic trays that fit snugly over your smile. Priced between $100 and $400 per arch, clear retainers are usually more affordable initially than permanent retainers. However, clear retainers aren’t as durable, so you have to replace them more often, increasing your expenses in the long run. You can purchase them through an orthodontist or online retailers.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Permanent Retainer?

Permanent retainers are a great fit for anyone seeking a low-maintenance aftercare option. You won’t need to worry about wear schedules or misplacing your retainer, since you’ll always be wearing it. Plus, these durable and long-lasting retainers keep orthodontist appointments to a minimum.

If budget is a big concern for you, permanent retainers can last over a decade, so this is a highly cost-effective aftercare option in the long run.

Final Thoughts

Permanent retainers are a long-lasting, discreet aftercare option that is affordable in the long-term. But that doesn’t mean they’re the right fit for everyone. Determining your aftercare priorities will help you choose the best retainer option for you.