Simple: Reatiners don't have the brackets. They are normally used to keep teeth in place. Braces have brackets, and are used to align your teeth to make them straight.
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The retainer is used after the braces have straightened your teeth and have been removed. It helps you teeth 'retain' their shape.
retainers
Braces are metal bands/wires that are attached to the teeth and can only be removed by a dentist. A retainer is a small piece that is just one long wire that can be removed during meals, and eventually you just wear your retainers at night.
Yes they are cheaper
RETAINERS
Eating with fixed braces is fine. Retainers must be taken out before eating!
Nope he has white braces to match with his teeth
Most people get retainers after braces to keep their teeth inline. However, some people wear retainers for straightening a particular tooth. For example I had to wear a retainer after getting a tooth taken out, to keep my teeth inline, allowing my second tooth to come through. After this I then got braces and then had to wear a retainer to keep them straight.
Yes, because they need the impressions to make your retainers.
Nope, not permanently! You would need braces or retainers for that!
get them asap they will shift
Lol, no. Retainers are not for nerds. They help keep your teeth strait AFTER you get your braces off so you don't have to get them put on again. No one wants to spend all of that money to get braces on a second time so if you have a retainer, I suggest wearing it. ^_^
If you have retainers it is kinda like braces.....chewing sugar-free gum is alright but it may hurt a little.