You spent months or years wearing braces to improve your dental alignment and get the beautiful smile you desired. After braces, your retainer is an insurance policy for your teeth, helping you to retain that beautiful smile. So that obviously means you want a retainer that is effective for dental retention! But, at the same time, you also want something that is comfortable to wear and lets you show off that new smile. The good news is, the Essix retainer is both effective and comfortable!
Comfortability Promotes Compliance
When you look at the effectiveness of a retainer, comfort plays a HUGE role. A retainer only works to keep your teeth in place when you wear it. And let’s be honest, you are not very likely to wear a retainer that is uncomfortable or causes pain!
Essix retainers were designed with comfort in mind. In addition to their clear material being almost unnoticeable, Essix retainers are molded snug to your teeth, providing an individual fit that allows for comfort and makes them more effective for daily wear.
A 2017 controlled trial published in the European Journal of Orthodontics compared the acceptability to Hawley and Essix retainers over a 6-month period in terms of comfort levels. Researchers divided participants based on Essix retainer wear and Hawley retainer wear. Each participant received 10 questions evaluating their experience with the retainers.
These questions addressed bite, fit, speech, appearance, oral hygiene, durability, gingival irritation, swallowing, self-confidence, and comfort. While both retainers scored similarly in terms of appliance fit, biting, and oral hygiene. Hawley retainers scored higher in durability, but Essix retainers stole the show! Patients reported higher scores for speech, appearance, gingival irritation, swallowing, self-confidence, and COMFORT!
You are more likely to wear a comfortable retainer! The comfort of an Essix retainer makes compliance easier. This means your retainer will be doing its job keeping your teeth in place.
Studies Show Essix Retainers More Effective Than Other Removable Retainer Types
While comfort plays a big role in compliance, a retainer is only as good as its ability to retain and keep your teeth in their new positions. Essix retainers have proven to be just as effective, if not better, than the traditional Hawley retainers.
In a 2012 comparison published in The Korean Journal of Orthodontics, researchers compared the retention characteristics of both Essix and Hawley retainers. While results were similar for both the retainers, the Essix retainers were more efficient in retaining the anterior teeth position.
A more recent report, published in 2018 in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry, researchers evaluated retention between Hawley and Essix retainers. This study was a little different, breaking the participants into three groups. The first group wore Hawley retainers full-time for four weeks and then only at night. The second group wore Essix retainers full-time for four weeks and then only at night. The third group wore Essix retainers full-time for only one week and the nighttime only.
Their results showed that both Essix groups were more effective than Hawley retainers in maintaining arch length and tooth alignment in the upper arch. For the lower jaw, the greatest retention occurred in the group wearing Essix retainers full-time for four weeks and then nightly.
Not only are Essix retainers unnoticeable and more comfortable, but, as studies show, they are actually more effective in dental retention than the traditional Hawley retainers. It’s important to note that with proper care, most retainers will last for 2 years before you need a replacement.
At SportingSmiles, we know how much better Essix retainers are for dental retention. Thanks to our patented self-impression kit, we are able to offer these exceptional retainers at a cheaper rate. For more information, visit SportingSmiles today.
