Once the braces are off, retainers are another colorful means of personal expression. They aren't all roof-of-the-mouth pink nowadays. Some glow in the dark, and some are personalized with a photo of Fido or Cindy Crawford, or even the logo of a favorite sports team. Choices are limited only by the imagination. Young male patients, of whom many are into anything gross, may choose spiders, snakes or other creepy crawlers for their retainers.
Patients are finding that today's high-tech materials are more
comfortable.
The sophisticated engineering of the tooth moving
wires-developed through NASA and activated by body heat-has
increased their tensile strength and flexibility, which makes
orthodontic treatment more comfortable. (Some patients want braces
that are nearly invisible-so they choose clear brackets through
which their teeth can be seen).