OBJECTIVE Traditional retainers (both metal and fiber-reinforced composite [FRC]) have limitations, and a retainer made from more flexible ligature wires might be advantageous. We aimed to compare an experimental design with two traditional retainers. METHODS In this prospective preliminary clinical trial, 150 post-treatment patients were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups of 50 ...

BACKGROUND Relapse following orthodontic treatment is a constant concern of orthodontists. Fixed retention is preferred especially for the lower arch by most orthodontists. OBJECTIVES This review focuses on in vivo studies. The main objective is to determine the survival rates of different types of retainer: glass-fiber reinforced composite resin, polyethylene or multistrand stainless steel w...

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate and compare stability after 6 months of Essix retainer use. Patients' perceptions of wearing the retainer were also evaluated. A total of 69 patients, 53 girls and 16 boys [mean age 15.7 years, standard deviation (SD) 1.96], were included in the study and randomized into two groups with different wear regimens; full-time wear for 3 months and th...

This work explores the performance of different silicon retainer ring designs when integrated into silicon micro-turbines (SMTs) incorporating thrust style bearings supported on 500 μm diameter steel balls. Experimental performance curves are presented for SMTs with rotor diameters of 5 mm and 10 mm, each with five different retainer designs varying in mechanical rigidity, ball pocket shape and...

INTRODUCTION We aimed to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) of three different retainer wires and three different bonding adhesives in consideration of the pretreatment process of enamel surface sandblasting. METHODS 400 extracted bovine incisors were divided into 10 groups of 20 paired specimens each. 10 specimens of each group were pretreated by enamel sandblasting. The retainer wires Bo...

INTRODUCTION Hawley retainers (HRs) and vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) are the 2 most commonly used retainers in orthodontics. However, the basis for selection of an appropriate retainer is still a matter of debate among orthodontists. In this systematic review, we evaluated the differences between VFRs and HRs. METHODS Electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Scienc...

BACKGROUND The objectives of this study were to evaluate retention procedures and protocols which are used by the orthodontists in Lithuania and to identify commonly used types of dental retainers. METHODS One hundred seven questionnaires in total with 28 multiple-choice questions were sent to all members of the Lithuanian Orthodontic Society. The questionnaire was organized into eight sectio...