What Are Retainers and Why Are They Essential After Braces? A retainer is a custom orthodontic appliance designed to hold your teeth in their corrected positions after braces come off. Without one, teeth naturally drift back toward where they started, undoing months of progress. Retainers after braces represent the final, essential phase of treatment, and … Continue reading Retainers After Braces: Types, How Long You Need Them & Preventing Teeth Shifting