“Can teeth be straightened with a retainer?”

Definitely! It depends on the type of retainer if it can be adjusted more easily or not (like, wire versus plastic retainer), but these are the same materials used to move teeth. Retainers are generally just meant to hold teeth in place after they have been moved to their desired places during treatment.

The answer to your question is not as straightforward as you may think. It is true that mild misalignment of teeth can be corrected with removable appliances such as clear aligners. They are advertised widely on TV and the internet. However, a diagnosis of your problem needs to be made by a qualified dental professional preferably an Orthodontist before embarking on any treatment. Certain questions need to be answered. Are your gums and bones that support the teeth healthy? If not they need to be healthy before starting any movement of teeth. How much space is required to properly align the teeth? If a large amount of space is required, the teeth may be moved into unfavorable and unhealthy positions that are not stable in the long term. What is the position of the current teeth in relationship to your other teeth? Simply aligning teeth when the teeth don't fit together properly can cause other types of problems and again not be stable in the long term. So, I would recommend that you don't just get a set of aligners made from an online site without having a proper diagnosis. Would you have your appendix removed just because your stomach ached? I think not. Remember, getting a qualified diagnosis does not necessarily obligate you to treatment with that particular professional, but it will give you the information you need to make an informed decision.

Good Luck,

Dr. David Romeo

There are some orthodontic problems that can be solved with a retainer. Minor spacing or very slight misalignment of the front teeth for example. Your expectations of how perfectly a retainer can do the job should be lowered. Anything more significant should be corrected using braces or aligners.

Yes. Teeth can be straightened with a retainer, depending on the which tooth and how severe the tooth is out of alignment. Certain teeth and certain movements are easier to move and achieve with a retainer. However, the retainer usually has to be modified by adding springs or wires  and/or acrylic to apply pressure to the teeth that need to straightened. Also, sometimes, attachments can be added to teeth that need to be aligned to allow the wires on the retainer to move the teeth in the desired direction. Spring aligner is the name for a retainer used to move teeth. Call and make an appointment with an orthodontist to see if a spring aligner retainer would be a good option for you to straighten your teeth.

Daniel A. Flores, DDS, MS

Yes, however, the quality and quantity is very different compared to using braces. For example, teeth cannot be torqued with retainers, but can be torqued with braces.

Dr. Ernest Goodson

Remember, the word "retainer" means "to retain," however, minor movements of selected teeth can be made with a retainer that need to be retained after minor movement.

A retainer is passive and does not move teeth. It just keeps teeth in their current position. An aligner is like a retainer, but is an active mover of teeth.
Thanks!!

Sincerely,

Robert E. Sims, D.M.D, M.S.D.

Not with one retainer, but with many retainers, yes (also known as aligners such as Invisalign). Sometimes though, a small discrepancy can be fixed with a removable retainer that gets adjusted by the orthodontist.

Retainers are a good option for minor tooth movements. Orthodontic treatment is better for more controlled tooth movements and improvements in your bite. I would recommend having a consultation with an orthodontist, which is usually free, to have a detailed evaluation. 

Marc D. Thomas, DDS

A visit to an orthodontist is the best way to find out what will work for you. They may need X-rays and models for a comprehensive evaluation so that they can give you treatment options so that together you can create a plan to meet your needs.

There are spring retainers that can provide minor tooth movement. Also, aligners can provide tooth movement. Thanks
Dr. Price

Unfortunately retainers are used once the orthodontic treatment is completed or when there is a need to preserve any space to prevent significant space loos or dental shift/movement. Retainer are not intended to align teeth. To correct the position of your teeth and based on the recommendations of the Orthodontist or specialist will be with Braces, Invisaling or Surgery. But you will need a Comprehensive Orthodontic Evaluation to provide the best treatment option.

Tooth positions can be maintained with a retainer.