Dental Retainer: What Is It and How Do You Cement It Properly?
A dental retainer is a device that is placed once the active phase of orthodontic treatment is complete in order to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original positions.
The key points to keep in mind for properly cementing a dental retainer are:
DENTAL RETENTION APPARATUS: SURFACE
The surface on which the dental retention apparatus will be cemented—whether lingual or palatal—must be completely clean. To achieve this, we can use an ultrasonic scaler beforehand if necessary.
DENTAL RETENTION APPARATUS: OCCLUSION
In the upper arch, check the occlusion beforehand to determine whether to place the retainer from canine to canine, on the four incisors only, and at the correct palatal height so it does not interfere with the lower teeth.
Occlusion is not a factor when cementing a lower dental retainer; however, it is critical in the upper arch.
For this reason, it is very important to complete orthodontic treatment with a proper overbite, since if the overbite is excessive, it will be very difficult or impossible to place the retainer. When checking the occlusion, we must always assess both maximum intercuspation and lateral and protrusive movements.
DENTAL RETENTION APPARATUS: POSITION
If there are no occlusal issues, ideally, the dental retainer should always be placed at the center of the tooth’s crown, using the contact point as a guide.
DENTAL RETENTION APPARATUS: PASSIVITY
Ensure its passivity to prevent tooth movement. An incorrectly cemented dental retention apparatus can have the opposite effect of its intended purpose and cause tooth movement. That is why we must ensure its complete passivity by checking it on the final models before cementing, as well as by annealing it to remove any residual stress the wire may carry, since heat neutralizes these properties.
DENTAL RETENTION APPARATUS: CONTACT POINTS
When placing dental floss, we must take care not to open any contact points. To do this, we should preferably use waxed floss or dental tape, which is narrower. Special care must be taken in cases that initially presented diastemas, as the tendency for them to reappear is much greater.
Now that you know the key points for properly cementing a dental retainer, we recommend checking out Inspiria’s courses, where you’ll find much more content on dentistry to continue expanding your knowledge.
