Bonded Retainers - Uses, Costs, Pros & Cons
Table of Contents
- What are Bonded Retainers?
- Pros & Cons: Bonded Retainers vs. Other Retainers
- Costs
- Orthodontist Recommended Retainers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
What are Bonded Retainers?
A bonded retainer is a thin piece of wire glued to the back of your teeth. The retainer is designed to stop your teeth from shifting, spacing and growing crooked.
Your teeth are attached to your skull by tissue known as a periodontal ligament, which comprises a network of stretchy fibers that can move. Over time, a bonded retainer can reshape the ligament and underlying bone structure so that your teeth align in a planned order.
Like elastic, periodontal ligament can resume its original shape when the retainer is removed. That’s why orthodontists recommend bonded retainers as a permanent solution to prevent teeth from relapsing (moving back to their original positions).
Unlike a removable retainer, a bonded retainer is permanent, and it’s manufactured to last your entire life. It is adjusted to match your bite so that it doesn’t interfere with eating and doesn’t come off during chewing.
Bonded retainers are commonly placed on the back surface of the bottom teeth, in which case, the retainer becomes a “lingual wire.” Orthodontists attach this thin wire to the back of your cuspids (canine teeth) using bonding material that is designed to hold for decades.
Nevertheless, bonded retainers can come off in some cases, such as during routine tartar cleanups.
Once a retainer comes off, it can take as little as three months for teeth to relapse and move back into their original, ill-set positions.
Pros and Cons: Bonded Retainers vs. Other Retainers
The pros of a bonded retainer include:
It keeps your teeth permanently aligned. A bonded retainer keeps your teeth aligned for life.
It stays hidden. No one can see it when you smile or talk.
It doesn’t affect your speech or your eating. You can perform these activities as you normally do without feeling self-conscious.
There is no risk of losing it. It is permanently installed in your mouth.
It isn’t easily damaged. It is durable and adjusted to your bite.
Bonded retainers may not be the best option to align crooked teeth in the upper jaw. The thin wire also takes a little getting used to and can make simple dental hygiene tasks seem difficult.
Drawbacks of bonded retainers include:
They require extra effort to keep clean. With removable retainers, cleaning is easy since you can take them out and soak them in a cleaning solution. That’s not the case with bonded retainers, which you have to clean without seeing.
They make brushing and flossing more difficult. Brushing and flossing around a bonded retainer can be difficult, causing you to neglect proper oral hygiene and risk cavities and gum disease.
The attachment procedure is long and can be uncomfortable. Removable retainer molds are made in seconds, but the procedure for attaching a bonded retainer takes long and may involve pain and discomfort.
It can be loosened by some foods. Biting into hard foods like apples or eating tough steak can bend the lingual wire, making it less effective. Also, sugary drinks and foods that are high in artificial additives may dissolve the bonding material, loosening the retainer.
It can suffer physical damage. Even though it is designed to last a lifetime, a bonded retainer can come loose or break a wire, necessitating repairs or a replacement at extra costs.
Costs of Bonded Retainers
On average, bonded retainers may cost between $250 and $700 for initial placement or replacement. This should be a one-time cost. Once these models are in place, they should require little to no maintenance over time to hold their effectiveness.
Nevertheless, damages may incur a similar fee to repair or replace the bonded retainer.
A lingual wire goes for between $220 and $500 for one arch, whether the top or bottom. It is often made from titanium, nickel, copper, or a combination of these metals and can last indefinitely.
In comparison, the standard Hawley removable retainer costs between $150 and $350.
The cost of your retainer may be bundled together with the overall cost of the procedure. Your orthodontist sets their own prices, so it is important to discuss whether dental insurance covers parts of the procedure.
Retainers That Are Orthodontist Recommended
In general, there are two types of retainers: removable and permanent (bonded). Your dentist may recommend one or the other, or even both, depending on the position of the misaligned teeth.
A removable retainer may suit younger children, whereas a bonded retainer is a better option for adults who care about the aesthetics, convenience, and reliability it offers. Furthermore, bonded retainers are ideal for you if you consistently forget to wear removable braces.
For you to qualify for bonded retainers, your teeth must have sufficient surface area for the bonding material. Your orthodontist’s initial assessments will decide whether you’re a suitable candidate for bonded retainers.
Teeth can shift quickly after orthodontic therapy, so bonded retainers can be an effective short-term solution as well as providing a long term solution for preventing the shifting of teeth.