Retention can be one of the most challenging aspects of treatment. When you have a crowding case that relapses or a spacing case where spaces open back up, it’s frustrating for everyone. The patient wonders whether the treatment was done properly or if their appliances worked effectively. Doctors want to avoid these issues as much as possible. For this reason, retention and careful planning for retention are critical for maintaining excellent patient outcomes. Having a well thought-out retention protocol from the beginning of treatment should be an integral part of every case.
To learn more about what factors to consider when planning for your patient’s retention, check out ”
Guidelines for Orthodontic Retention", an archived Ask the Expert Program available anytime for CE hours on AligntechInstitute.com. In this program, Dr. Doug Brandt describes retention philosophies and options as well as the importance of planning for retention early in the treatment process.
Retention Options
There are many options for retention available to doctors, and the decision of which type of retention to use depends on many factors including the specific patient’s dentition and lifestyle.
Align Technology offers Vivera™ retainers. The Vivera retainers program delivers a series of four sets of fresh, clear retainers automatically delivered to you or your patient. The exact delivery schedule of the retainers is determined by the doctor and is based on the needs of the patient and their own wear schedule (i.e. nights only or full-time wear). This scheduled delivery feature makes Vivera retainers an excellent tool you can use to help ensure continued clinical retention, not to mention a very cost-effective solution. Vivera retainers are made with the same state-of-the-art technology as Invisalign aligners, and use 3-D digital imaging, proprietary clear thermoplastic material, and advanced fabrication technology—the same fabrication technology behind Invisalign aligners. For more information, please visit
www.viveraretainers.com or download the
Vivera retainers information sheet (PDF).