Hawley Retainers in Charles County, MD
Sequence Orthodontics, with convenient offices located in Waldorf, serves residents of Charles County and St. Mary’s County, Maryland, providing such comprehensive orthodontic services as Hawley retainers and other orthodontic treatments.
Hawley Retainers in Charles County, MD
Sequence Orthodontics, with convenient offices located in Waldorf, serves residents of Charles County and St. Mary’s County, Maryland, providing such comprehensive orthodontic services as Hawley retainers and other orthodontic treatments.
What Is a Hawley Retainer?
Usually consisting of an acrylic plate with wires and clasps embedded in it, a Hawley retainer is the most versatile and commonly prescribed retainer in the orthodontic industry. Hawley retainers come in a variety of design options and may be used to hold teeth securely in place after braces, or they may be adjusted to guide teeth back into position if they’ve shifted.
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How Does a Hawley Retainer Work?
Hawley retainers are designed to “retain” or hold teeth in position via the use of gentle force and pressure on the teeth. The retainer consists of a plastic body that typically covers a portion of the roof of the mouth or sits behind the lower teeth. Metal wires and clasps attached to the plastic body allow the retainer to be anchored to specific teeth. By holding teeth securely in place, Hawley retainers protect the results of your braces or other orthodontic treatment.
Why are Hawley Retainers so Widely Used?
Studies published in the International Journal of Dentistry conclude that wearing a retainer correctly contributes to oral health by keeping teeth aligned, thus reducing the likelihood of poor oral and general health. The most significant benefit of a Hawley retainer is its versatility due to it being adjustable. Other benefits include the many design options available for this type of retainer.
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Who is a Good Candidate for a Hawley Retainer?
Almost anyone older than age seven who has been determined eligible for braces or other orthodontic treatment may also successfully wear a Hawley retainer, though, in some cases, a different type of retainer may be more suitable. Hawley retainers are custom-crafted for adults, teens, and children, thanks to different design options that are now available to suit individual patients’ tastes and preferences.
How Long Will I Have to Wear a Hawley Retainer?
The length of time you’ll wear your Hawley retainer varies from patient to patient, but retainers are typically worn for a period similar to the period that you wore your braces. This is because teeth may take over a year to stabilize after treatment. Patients who had wide gaps and irregular spaces between their teeth prior to treatment may need to wear the retainer a bit longer.
Is Wearing a Hawley Retainer Uncomfortable?
Wearing a Hawley retainer has been known to cause mild soreness in the jaw and gums after the initial fitting in some patients. This soreness may last for a few days, but wearing a retainer is normally less painful than wearing braces.
