Orthodontic Retainers

Retainers are a critical tool for keeping teeth in place after braces or aligners come off.

From fitting new retainers to troubleshooting problems with existing ones, we can help with all retainer needs.

Join our mailing list to receive important updates and information. Opening Summer 2026.

Join Our List

orthodontic retainer clear retainer hawley retainer fixed retainer braces retainer southern maryland orthodontic studio2

Maintaining Results

Retainers: Essential After Treatment

Teeth don’t solidify in place the day braces or aligners come off. The bone and the soft tissues around teeth need time to remodel and stabilize in the new position. This remodeling process takes time – months or even years – and during that window teeth are especially prone to shifting.

Retainers counteract both of these forces.

They hold teeth steady while everything around the teeth adapts. Skip them, and the treatment results can start unwinding.

Patients will be given a wear schedule based on the case. Some patients start full-time wear and then taper. Other cases need more retention from day one. The goal is the same: keep the result stable and predictable.

Types of Retainers

orthodontic retainer clear retainer hawley retainer fixed retainer braces retainer southern maryland orthodontic studio
Flexibility

Removable Retainers

Common removable options include:

  • Clear retainers: Thin, transparent trays that fit over the teeth and look similar to clear aligners. They’re low-visibility and easy to wear at night.
  • Hawley retainers: Classic acrylic design that sits against the roof of the mouth (or behind lower teeth), with a wire that wraps around the front. More durable, but more noticeable, than clear retainers, and adjustable if minor movement happens.

Both types require consistent wear, especially in the first year after treatment. Dr. Hagan provides a specific schedule so patients who follow it keep their results.

Always Working

Fixed Retainers (Permanent)

A fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded to the back of the teeth, most commonly on the lower front teeth (and sometimes the upper front teeth too).

Why Dr. Hagan may recommend fixed retention:

  • Patient has high relapse risk. If the lower front teeth were crowded or rotated, fixed are often the best option.
  • Less compliance required. Patients don’t have to remember to wear it.
  • Long-term stability. Retainer acts as safety net, especially for the teeth prone to shifting long after treatment.

A fixed retainer does require patients to practice proper oral hygiene, and be examined at regular dental cleanings.

orthodontic retainer clear retainer hawley retainer fixed retainer braces retainer southern maryland orthodontic studio5
  • orthodontic retainer clear retainer hawley retainer fixed retainer braces retainer southern maryland orthodontic studio4
  • orthodontic retainer clear retainer hawley retainer fixed retainer braces retainer southern maryland orthodontic studio3
  • orthodontic retainer clear retainer hawley retainer fixed retainer braces retainer southern maryland orthodontic studio6

Less visible, Highly effective

Caring For Retainers

Use a Case

For removable retainers, keep them in a case when not in use. No case leads to lost retainers.

Avoid heat

Very hot water, dishwashers, car dashboards, and other warm areas can warp clear retainers.

Brush and Floss

Brush and floss regularly, as retainers work best when gums and teeth healthy. For fixed retainers, floss behind the wire or use a water flosser.

Orthodontic Retainers FAQ

Teeth drift. Sometimes slowly, sometimes faster than patients expect. The first few months after treatment are the highest-risk window, but shifting can happen years later too.

If a retainer stops fitting, that’s usually a sign teeth already moved. In that case, call our office. If we catch it early, patients can often get back on track without restarting full treatment.

Call our office and tell us what happened (lost, cracked, stopped fitting, fixed retainer feels loose). We’ll schedule a quick visit to evaluate and take a scan or impression if needed.

Timing matters, so don’t wait. The longer a patient goes without a retainer, the more likely teeth will shift and the harder it is to make a replacement that fits comfortably.

The general protocol is “nightly forever.” While the bone stabilizes after about a year, mild physiological drift happens to everyone as they age. Wearing retainers while sleeping is the only certain way to prevent this natural movement.

Contact Us

Join our mailing list to receive important updates and information.

Opening Summer 2026.

Join Our List

Communities we Serve

We treat patients from across Washington, D.C., Prince George’s, Anne Arundel, Charles, and Calvert counties, and more. Some communities we serve include:

  • Bowie, MD
  • Clinton, MD
  • Crofton, MD
  • Fort Washington, MD
  • Largo, MD
  • Mitchellville, MD
  • Upper Marlboro, MD
  • Waldorf, MD