What’s the Difference Between Braces and Retainers?

In the modern world, it is very common for people to be confused between retainers for teeth and braces. The reason is that the function of clear braces for adults and retainers is to straighten teeth. To help clear the doubt, we bring to you this blog about the difference between the two.

Braces — The concept behind teeth straightening has been around for millennia, but we can say that braces in the modern world are much more reliable, and more cost-effective, making them a preferred approach for teeth aligning. These braces come with small brackets that are bonded to each tooth that carefully correct their position by applying pressure to them. The process will be monitored by an orthodontist, making sure the alignment follows as planned.

Retainers — Unlike fixed braces, which can be a painful process, using retainers is a better choice as this is supposed to last for only two weeks. Once the time is spent, you will need to replace them with a new set. Every retainer will only fix your dental misalignment by a tiny margin, which means this is a completely painless process. As a patient, you will need to wear the retainers to straighten your teeth for at least 22 hours per day.

So when you want to get your straight teeth, it is important you understand the difference and make the right choice as per the guidance of a dentist or orthodontist with relevant experience.