Friday, May 23, 2014

The Difference Between Essix and Hawley Retainers

The Difference between Essix and Hawley Retainers


Dental professionals prescribe the use of  orthodontic retainers to protect the alignment of your teeth. Currently there are two main types on the market. Known as the Hawley and the Essix retainers, they are designed to prevent  shifting of the teeth. You would typically wear a retainer after undergoing dental orthodontic treatment or to prevent the teeth from shifting further. TExample of Hawley Retainerhe Hawley Model The Hawley retainer was invented by Dr. Charles Hawley in 1908. It is an older model that relies on wires attached to the anterior teeth for proper placement. If you have one of these appliances, you will notice that the wires are anchored into an acrylic base. For proper wear, you need to push the base against the palate. Unfortunately, doing so can make it difficult for some wearers to talk when wearing the retainer. On the upside, an orthodontist can adjust the wires of a Hawley retainer as needed. The Essix Model

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="250"]Essix Retainers Single Essix Clear Retainer[/caption]

An Essix retainer is the newer style of retainers. It is made from a clear 1-mm EVA (vinyl) sheet material that is formed over a dental stone positive impression of your teeth. These retainers are not as costly as the Hawley retainer and are much more comfortable to wear on a daily basis. Not surprisingly, their popularity has eclipsed the older Hawley style retainers. 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. The retainers are made from the same material as Invisalign even though they are not designed to actually move your teeth. We custom-tailor them to keep your teeth in their current position as indicated by your orthodontist. Among the advantages of the Essix retainer are they are clear, less expensive, less noticeable, more comfortable and make it a lot easier to speak when you are wearing them. Contact us today to order your retainer. SportingSmiles invites you to like us on Facebook, add us to your circles on Google+ and follow us on Twitter!

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