Retainers 101: Hawley, Essix and Permanent Retainers Explained

The end of active orthodontic treatment is not the end of the process. Once the braces come off or the aligner trays are complete, teeth have a natural tendency to shift back toward their original positions over time. Retainers are what prevents this from happening, and choosing the right type, wearing it as prescribed, and caring for it properly determines whether the result of your orthodontic treatment is maintained for the long term.

Liverpool Orthodontics prescribes retainers as part of every treatment completion, and our team advises every patient on the retainer type most appropriate for their situation. This guide explains the three main retainer types, how each works, and what to expect from caring for each one. For specific advice about your own retainer, always consult your orthodontist. Contact Liverpool Orthodontics or visit our FAQs page for more information.

Why Retainers Are Essential After Orthodontic Treatment

When teeth are moved into new positions during orthodontic treatment, the periodontal ligament fibres that connect the teeth to the jaw bone are stretched and compressed. After active treatment ends, these fibres retain a memory of the teeth’s original positions and will gradually pull the teeth back toward where they were. Retainers work by holding the teeth in their corrected positions while these fibres reorganise and stabilise around the new tooth positions. Without retainers, relapse, the gradual movement of teeth back toward their pre-treatment positions, is the predictable outcome.

The Three Main Retainer Types

Hawley retainers

The Hawley retainer is the original orthodontic retention appliance. It consists of an acrylic base plate that sits against the palate (upper retainer) or the tongue side of the lower arch (lower retainer), with a metal labial wire that runs across the front teeth. The wire can be adjusted by the orthodontist to make minor corrections if teeth move slightly, which is one of the functional advantages of the Hawley over clear plastic options.

Hawley retainers are durable, repairable, and have a multi-decade track record. They are removable for eating and oral hygiene. The acrylic base comes in a range of colours and patterns, making them the most personally customisable retainer option. The metal wire is visible when smiling, which some patients find aesthetically less desirable than clear alternatives.

Essix (clear plastic) retainers

Essix retainers are custom-made clear plastic trays that fit precisely over the teeth, similar in appearance to Invisalign aligners. They are virtually invisible when worn, which makes them the preferred aesthetic choice for most adult patients. They are removable for eating and oral hygiene.

Essix retainers are fabricated from a digital or physical model of the post-treatment teeth, which means they fit precisely. The trade-off compared to Hawley retainers is that they are not adjustable, cannot easily be repaired if cracked, and are more vulnerable to heat. Drinking hot beverages while wearing an Essix retainer will warp and damage the plastic. Most patients require replacement of Essix retainers every few years as the plastic ages.

Permanent (bonded) retainers

A permanent retainer, also called a bonded or fixed retainer, is a thin metal wire bonded directly to the inside surface of the teeth, typically the lower front teeth. It is not removable by the patient: it remains in place continuously and requires no patient compliance. This is its primary advantage: it eliminates the risk of forgetting to wear a retainer or losing it.

Permanent retainers require diligent oral hygiene because the wire prevents normal flossing. A floss threader or interdental brush must be used to clean under the wire every day. If oral hygiene is inadequate, the area around the bonded wire can accumulate calculus and be at higher risk of decay and gum disease. Bonded retainers can also break if the patient bites on a hard food or an external impact occurs. If a bonded retainer breaks, it needs to be repaired or replaced promptly because an inactive retainer that is no longer maintaining tooth position is worse than no retainer.

How Long to Wear Retainers

Immediately after treatment ends, retainers are typically prescribed for full-time wear (removing only for eating and cleaning). Over the following months, the orthodontist may move the patient to night-time-only wear as the teeth stabilise. For long-term retention, most orthodontists recommend ongoing night-time wear of removable retainers indefinitely, or monitoring of bonded retainers on a regular basis.

The exact protocol depends on your specific case and your orthodontist’s assessment of how stable your result is likely to be. Discuss your retainer schedule with the team at Liverpool Orthodontics at your treatment completion appointment.

Caring for Your Retainer

• Removable retainers: clean with a soft toothbrush and mild soap or a retainer cleaning solution, not toothpaste (toothpaste is abrasive and scratches the plastic). Rinse thoroughly. Store in the case provided when not worn
• Essix retainers: keep away from heat. Do not put them in a hot car, near a radiator, or in a container that might trap heat. Never boil to clean
• Bonded retainers: brush carefully along the wire, and use a floss threader or water flosser to clean under the wire daily. Attend regular dental hygiene appointments where the hygienist can scale around the retainer
• All retainers: contact your orthodontist if the retainer breaks, warps, no longer fits correctly, or if you notice that your teeth are moving. Do not try to adjust a retainer yourself

Frequently Asked Questions

Which retainer is best after Invisalign treatment?

Most patients who complete Invisalign treatment transition to either Essix retainers (clear plastic, similar to the aligners they were already wearing) or bonded retainers for the lower arch with an Essix for the upper. The right choice depends on your orthodontist’s assessment of your bite and stability. The Liverpool Orthodontics team will advise on the most appropriate retainer plan at your treatment completion appointment.

Can I get a replacement retainer if I lose mine?

Yes. Contact Liverpool Orthodontics as soon as you notice that a retainer is lost or damaged. A replacement can typically be fabricated from the records of your teeth taken at the completion of treatment. Do not delay: even a few days without a retainer can allow some tooth movement, particularly in the period immediately after treatment ends.

Why are my teeth moving even though I am wearing my retainer?

If teeth are moving while a retainer is being worn, the retainer may have warped, the bonded retainer may have broken, or the teeth may have moved enough that the retainer is no longer fitting correctly. In any of these cases, contact your orthodontist promptly. Wearing a retainer that no longer fits correctly is not providing the retention it should.