Retainers after braces

[BB49]

DD16 is almost done with her braces which are coming off in a few weeks. Just wondering whether to go for the removable or fixed retainers? We have to pay extra for the fixed one but if it’s less hassle and more effective in stopping movement of teeth would that be better?

I had fixed braces in my teens and no retainers and my teeth have moved so much 😔

Both! Fixed retainers aren’t 100% reliable - they can easily break allowing the teeth to shift. It’s always best to have a removable one as well so that you have a back up plan

Thanks @ACLtrouble. Sounds a strong plan!

I had braces as an adult and am still wearing removable retainers overnight. The dentist told me that fixed ones only hold the front 6(?) teeth on top and bottom. And they can break and be hard to clean. I still think about getting them tbh because I only really care about my front teeth. Who would ever notice if my back ones moved again? And nightly retainers are annoying.

My GS has removable retainers and has been back once to have them checked out. I think they're good if you're a stickler for routine and doing stuff just so (which he is) as they need soaking in a cleaner every day. He wasn't offered a fixed retainer....his were NHS.

My daughters have fixed retainers on the back of front teeth and also removable retainers for the night when sleeping. I am not risking them getting crooked after so much money

Both. I had a fixed one only after braces and my teeth moved anyway. Now after invisalign several years later I have a fixed brace on the bottom and wear a retainer at night.

Another vote for both. I have fixed behind my upper and lower front 6 teeth and a removable retainer overnight. Although I stopped wearing it every night after about a year, more like every two-three nights now

Dentist here!
Definately both, those teeth will start to move back the moment the braces are taken off. They need holding

Another vote for both! I only had the removable retainer as a teen and it inevitably got lost, then found, then broken etc, ended up with adult braces but now both retainers are doing the trick.

I had a removable one for maybe 8 years, I was religious with wearing it but had movement and it also popped off when asleep.

For the last 13 ish years I've had fixed and very little movement. And only had them reglued once! Bottom ones never reglued.