Abstract
Fixed retainers are a reliable form of retention for avoiding relapse and maintaining dental arch shape. They function regardless of patient cooperation, and they fulfill high esthetic expectations. Teeth have tendency to return to their former position, as time required for retaining the treatment result. The most appropriate mode of retention for the post-treatment situation should be used, based on a careful evaluation of the patient’s pretreatment diagnostic records, habits, cooperation, growth pattern, and age. Retention after orthodontic intervention is as important part of the therapy as the active treatment. Age and maturity of the patients, result of the orthodontic intervention, origin and character of the anomaly, type of the retainer, compliance of the patients; all can influence the chance of relapse. The retention period should be twice longer than the active orthodontic treatment. This article covers various aspect of fixed retention in detail
Highlights
Retention has been defined by Moyers as, “The holding of teeth following orthodontic treatment in the treated position for the period of time necessary for the maintenance of the result”.1 The time of retention varies according to the age of the patient, occlusion gained, tooth movements accomplished, length of cusps, health of the tissues etc; from a few days, to a year or two years, or often longer
The close relationship between active orthodontic treatment and retention was emphasized by Hellman; who said that “retention is not a separate problem in orthodontics, but is a continuation of what we are doing during the treatment.”[2]
Zachrisson reported about the possible benefits of using multi-stranded wires instead of the earlier use of round orthodontic wire for constructing the bonded retainers
Summary
Retention has been defined by Moyers as, “The holding of teeth following orthodontic treatment in the treated position for the period of time necessary for the maintenance of the result”.1 The time of retention varies according to the age of the patient, occlusion gained, tooth movements accomplished, length of cusps, health of the tissues etc; from a few days, to a year or two years, or often longer. Knierim was the first to report the use of bonded fixed retainers. Zachrisson reported about the possible benefits of using multi-stranded wires instead of the earlier use of round orthodontic wire for constructing the bonded retainers. The proponents of multi-stranded wire claim advantages like increased mechanical retention for composite with no need of retentive loops and allowance of physiologic movement of teeth in spite of bonding several adjacent teeth due to its flexibility. As an alternative to multistranded wire, the uses of resin fiberglass strips have been developed.[3,4] Long-term stability after orthodontic treatment has been found to be unpredictable at the individual level as growth and dental tissue changes may interfere with an otherwise good treatment result. The collagen fiber network needs 4–6 months to reorganize, and the elastic supra-crestal fibers need up to one year to settle.[1,3] Because of these factors, relapse tendency is highest immediately after debonding and in the first 12 months post-treatment.[5,6]
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