Bonded retainers
Slim wires glued behind the front teeth after treatment, worn together with your removable retainers.
What are bonded retainers?
Bonded retainers are slim, custom-fit wires which are glued to the tongue side of the upper and/or lower teeth. They provide an extra protection against tooth movement after orthodontic treatment. They can be particularly useful in patients who start off with extreme crowding or large spacing. They are not used to replace your removable retainers, but are used in conjunction with removable retainers.
How are bonded retainers fitted?
Bonded retainers are custom fit to your teeth and prepared by our specialist orthodontic lab. The bonded retainers are fitted with special glue to your teeth after completion of treatment. Bonded retainers are not uncomfortable but will feel a bit strange in the beginning and are difficult to clean.
Bonded retainers do incur an additional fee which will be discussed prior to your treatment.
How do I care for them?
Bonded retainers do need maintenance and care. You will need to be careful with eating hard/sticky foods to avoid damage. It is essential you use special floss to clean adequately and return to the practice for repairs if breakages occur. Breakages attract a repair fee.
Don’t forget
Should you decide on a bonded retainer, clear retainers must still be worn in addition.
Remember: please discuss any questions with your orthodontic team regarding your bonded retainers.