Dental professionals will often prescribe the use of orthodontic retainers to protect the alignment of your teeth. Typically, you would wear a retainer after undergoing teeth alignment or to prevent the teeth from shifting further if yours do not yet require orthodontic correction. Either way, they are essential in preserving that picture-perfect smile that you have worked so hard to get. There are two main types of retainers: the Hawley, and the Essix. Both are designed to prevent the shifting of the teeth, but they have very different advantages and disadvantages to one another. Below we will examine some of the key differences between the two models, and briefly explain why we choose to provide our customers with the Essix model.
Visibility:
Essix Retainers are crystal clear and snap on over the teeth resulting in a perfect fit. Unless you are looking closely at the wearer, essix retainers can remain disguised as part of the smile. These retainers can grow yellow or white spots if not properly given a deep cleaning.
Hawley Retainers can come in various colors depending on what the user wants and as a result, tend to show more. It’s easy to see a green or blue acrylic plate in someone’s mouth even if you aren’t standing right next to them.
Comfort:
Essix Retainers are designed to custom fit each row of teeth resulting in a “snap” when putting them on. These retainers are designed to be tight fitting to hold your teeth in place. The comfort of an essix retainer is snug but not too tight. Users typically sleep with essix retainers in their mouths so the retainers are sleek and compact.
Hawley Retainers allow you to close your mouth fully as the retainer doesn’t on the bite of your teeth. This means you can close your mouth and bite down without damaging the retainer. The issue with Hawley retainers is their overall comfort level. For users who have a Hawley retainer on their bottom set of teeth, the experience is very uncomfortable with both the top and bottom feeling bulky.
Durability:
Essix retainers can wear down over time if not properly cared for. Their lifespan is between one and two years but can crack if chewed on or ripped off. They are much more affordable to replace as replacement retainers can cost as low as $60. As new plastic material becomes available, essix retainers have become stronger over the years.
Hawley Retainers are more sturdy and last longer than essix retainers but can still break. When they do crack or break it can be very costly to repair. You’ll need to take them to your dentist and have it repaired and the process can be lengthy.
Let’s take a look at the history of each retainer.
The Hawley Model
Dr. Charles Hawley invented the Hawley retainer in 1908. This older model relies on wires attached to the anterior teeth for proper placement. If you have one of these appliances, you will notice that it is composed of wires that are anchored into an acrylic base. Despite its age, the Hawley design remains effective at preserving the alignment of the teeth. While it was hugely popular for much of the twentieth century, it does have some disadvantages. For proper placement, you need to push the base of the retainer up against the palate. Unfortunately, doing so can make it difficult for some wearers to talk when they have the retainer in.
Naturally, inhibiting a wearer’s speech and use of their mouth as little as possible is always the goal when identifying a retainer solution. On the upside, an orthodontist can adjust the wires of a Hawley retainer as needed. This makes it the more adaptable of the two models. While in some cases this may be necessary, we believe that the disadvantages outweigh the adaptability, and therefore choose to provide our customers with the Essix model.
The Essix Model
An Essix retainer is the newer style of the two. It is made from a clear 1-mm EVA (vinyl) sheet material. The material is formed over a positive dental stone impression of your teeth. These retainers are not as costly as the Hawley and are much more comfortable to wear on a daily basis. Not surprisingly, their popularity has eclipsed the older Hawley style. The majority of today’s modern labs vacuum-form the retainers they produce. At SportingSmiles, we thermo-form them to provide you with superior tautness and the most accurate retainer based on your dental needs.
Essix and Essix Plus retainers from SportingSmiles offer a clear, less expensive and more comfortable alternative to Hawley retainers.
The retainers are made from the same material as Invisalign even though they are not designed to move your teeth. Our team custom-tailors them for you to keep your teeth in their current position as indicated by your orthodontist. Essix has several advantages. They are clear, less expensive, less noticeable, much more comfortable. They also make it a lot easier to speak when you are wearing them.
