The World Wide Web is so amazing that we can buy anything we want on it. And one thing that we can buy online is dental retainers.
Dental retainers are vital when it comes to straightening your teeth. They can be made out of a few materials, of which molded plastic and metal are preferred by many.
But is the process much different when buying dental retainers online? As you would imagine, there are hundreds of orthodontists that provide this service.
And while it might seem confusing, the process is actually very straightforward.
In this article, we will explain to you the 4 things to know before buying dental retainers online.
Contents
1. Look at the Cost
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It’s safe to say that dentistry has evolved a lot in recent times. Through careful and smart innovation the industry has managed to come up with new devices and treatments for all kinds of diseases that affect our teeth and mouth.
And one innovations that has changed the way we align our teeth are dental retainers and braces. Nowadays, you can get your own retainer from your local dentist or you can buy one online.
If the latter interests you, then the first thing to know is that they can be expensive. This is why it’s important to look at the overall cost of getting a retainer, and compare it with other orthodontists to get the best possible price.
2. You Will Have To Do Some Measuring
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While not in a literal sense, the only way to order an accurate retainer is to give the sellers your impression. Namely, you will need to find a service that can take your teeth measurement and create the retainer based on that.
Fortunately for you, online custom teeth retainers have found a very cool way, and one that works exactly like your local dentist would take your impression. You will need to order a kit and send the samples back to them so the retainer can be created.
If this isn’t an option, then it wouldn’t be possible for the online sellers to make the right retainer for you.
3. Look For Offers
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Whenever going online to buy anything, what is the sort of thing that drives you to buy? Is it the affordable prices, the convenience, the discounts, or perhaps an offer?
When it comes to buying dental retainers online, it would be quite smart to find a reliable seller to provide you with all of your orthodontist needs while your teeth straighten.
Before you can do that, you might lose your retainers and would need a replacement ASAP. Since this is all too common, it’s important to find a seller that will replace them at a lower cost. Many online orthodontists reward returning customers by offering a discount on their next purchase. Some, such as SportingSmiles, offer up to 35% discounts on returning customers.
So it would be smart to go with an online orthodontist that has your best interest in mind, as well as lowering the cost for reordering retainers.
4. Look At What Types Of Retainers They Have
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Naturally, there isn’t a single type of dental retainer out there. In total, there are two, which might not sound as much but it is good to have options nonetheless.
It’s important to distinguish these two types as both come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let’s talk about that.
- Hawley
The term “Hawley retainers” might sound unfamiliar, but these are also called wire retainers. The uniqueness of these retainers is that they’re made out of a thin metal wire. Another component of this retainer is a plastic or acrylic part that is specially designed to fit your teeth.
They are easily removable and designed to align your teeth through time. One thing that is considered an advantage is that they can be realigned to better fit your teeth. This is especially helpful if your teeth have already shown progress from the moment you first put them on.
Another thing that Hawley retainers have going for them is the fact that they are much more durable than the other type. It is said that the lifespan of these retainers can be years before they need any sort of repairing or replacing.
Since this isn’t a perfect world, there are natural downsides to using them. For example, you will have a harder time communicating with the Hawley than the other type. They are also more noticeable and the wire can cause all sorts of irritating.
- Clear Plastic
Now let’s talk about the other type, clear plastic. Much like the previous one, clear plastic is also removable and designed to perfectly fit the new position of your teeth. Due to the nature of their making, many call clear plastic retainers molded.
Whenever a patient decides to go for clear plastic retainers, the orthodontist needs to take a mold of the patient teeth. This is why the online orthodontist must send you an impression kit whenever buying clear plastic retainers online.
An advantage to using clear plastic is that they are transparent and thus harder to spot. They’re also less bulky are more comfortable, with no sort of irritation caused. This is because there is no wire with these retainers, unlike the Hawley type.
And due to the nature of their making, and the fact that they are less bulky, you will have a harder time communicating without the retainers affecting your speech.
With all that said, a few things go against clear plastic. For starters, they cannot be realigned and you will most likely have to order a new one. This is why it’s important to find a seller that will give you a good discount on your next purchase.
Another thing that goes against clear plastic is the fact that it cannot be repaired if broken. You will most likely have to order a new one if that happens, which puts even greater importance on finding a reliable seller that will give you a discount.
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Conclusion
It’s important to find a reliable online seller that has your best interests in mind. Regardless of what type of retainer you go for, we hope that this article will serve you well when the time comes to buy a retainer to straighten your teeth.
