Hawley Retainer

After the braces have been removed, it is important to maintain the result achieved. This is done by placing wires, also called splints, behind the front teeth.If the upper and lower front teeth have excessive vertical overlap after treatment, for whatever reason, there is a fairly good chance that an upper splint will break or loosen. As a result, the upper front teeth may shift. In this situation, it is wise to have a Hawley retainer made. This is a plate in the upper jaw from which nothing can be seen except for a metal wire that runs in front of the upper front teeth.

It is important that you wear the Hawley retainer every night for the first 2 weeks. After this period, you should wear it less and less, but at least once every 2 weeks.

With this retainer, it is also possible to correct small changes in position after the completion of braces, without the need to place braces again. The Hawley retainer can be worn day and night for about 3 months. The only time it is not worn is when you are brushing your teeth and the retainer.

Brush the retainer with a toothbrush and toothpaste.