Clear Retainer

The clear retainer is also called the Essix retainer. It is a transparent detachable retainer made of plastic. They can be removed when the patient needs to eat or brush their teeth. Excessive temperatures may cause plastic deformation, which affects the fit and causes tooth displacement. Compared with other retainers, its biggest feature is high transparency. So most people don’t notice that the patient is wearing orthotics.

Usually, the clear retainer is applied after orthodontic treatment, and it exerts a slight force that causes the supporting bone and tissue to break down, keeping the tooth in a fixed position. However, the service life of the clear retainer is shorter, because the plastic will always wear and even break.