Orthodontic Retention: Protocols, Materials, and Long-Term Stability

Little RM, Wallen TR, Riedel RA. Stability and relapse of mandibular anterior alignment—first premolar extraction cases treated by traditional edgewise orthodontics. American Journal of Orthodontics. 1981 Oct 1;80(4):349–65.
Boese LR. Fiberotomy and Reproximation Without Lower Retention, Nine Years In Retrospect: Part I. The Angle Orthodontist. 1980 Apr 1;50(2):88–97.
Thilander B. Biological basis for orthodontic relapse. Seminars in Orthodontics. 2000 Sept 1;6(3):195–205.
Littlewood SJ, Kandasamy S, Huang G. Retention and relapse in clinical practice. [cited 2025 Sept 30]; Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/adj.12475
Richardson ME. The etiology of late lower arch crowding alternative to mesially directed forces: A review. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 1994 June 1;105(6):592–7.
Henry Fields, Brent Larson, David M. Sarver, William R. Proffit. Contemporary Orthodontics. Mosby; 2025.
Sauget E, Covell DA, Boero RP, Lieber WS. Comparison of occlusal contacts with use of Hawley and clear overlay retainers. Angle Orthod. 1997;67(3):223–30.
Ades AG, Joondeph DR, Little RM, Chapko MK. A long-term study of the relationship of third molars to changes in the mandibular dental arch. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 1990 Apr 1;97(4):323–35.
Orthodontic Retainers: A Contemporary Overview. The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2019 July;20(7):857–62.
Kartal Y, Kaya B. Fixed Orthodontic Retainers: A Review. Turk J Orthod. 2019 June;32(2):110–4.
Kravitz ND, Grauer D, Schumacher P, Jo Y min. Memotain: A CAD/CAM nickel-titanium lingual retainer. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2017 Apr 1;151(4):812–5.
Lyros I, Tsolakis IA, Maroulakos MP, Fora E, Lykogeorgos T, Dalampira M, et al. Orthodontic Retainers—A Critical Review. Children. 2023 Feb;10(2):230.
Lorenzoni DC, Henriques JFC, Silva LK da, Rosa RR, Berretin-Felix G, Freitas KMS, et al. Comparison of speech changes caused by four different orthodontic retainers: a crossover randomized clinical trial. Dental Press J Orthod. 2024;29:e2423277.
Ramazanzadeh B, Ahrari F, Hosseini ZS. The retention characteristics of Hawley and vacuum-formed retainers with different retention protocols. J Clin Exp Dent. 2018 Mar 1;10(3):e224–31.
Lustig JR, Rossouw PE, Buschang PH, Behrents RG, Woody RD. Assessment of post-orthodontic occlusal contacts with wrap-around and clear overlay retainers. Seminars in Orthodontics. 2017 June 1;23(2):166–77.
Pravindevaprasad A, Therese BA. Tooth positioners and their effects on treatment outcome. J Nat Sci Biol Med. 2013;4(2):298–301.
AL-MAAITAH EF, ALOMARI S, AL-NIMRI K. Comparison between round multi-strand wire and rectangular wire bonded retainers: a randomized clinical trial. Dental Press J Orthod. 28(2):e2321101.
Arn ML, Dritsas K, Pandis N, Kloukos D. The effects of fixed orthodontic retainers on periodontal health: A systematic review. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2020 Feb 1;157(2):156-164.e17.
Edwards JG. A long-term prospective evaluation of the circumferential supracrestal fiberotomy in alleviating orthodontic relapse. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 1988 May 1;93(5):380–7.
Jahanbin A, Ramazanzadeh B, Ahrari F, Forouzanfar A, Beidokhti M. Effectiveness of Er:YAG laser-aided fiberotomy and low-level laser therapy in alleviating relapse of rotated incisors. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2014 Nov 1;146(5):565–72.
Miresmæili AF, Mollabashi V, Gholami L, Farhadian M, Rezaei-Soufi L, Javanshir B, et al. Comparison of conventional and laser-aided fiberotomy in relapse tendency of rotated tooth: A randomized controlled clinical trial. International Orthodontics. 2019 Mar 1;17(1):103–13.
Zachrisson BU, Nyøygaard L, Mobarak K. Dental health assessed more than 10 years after interproximal enamel reduction of mandibular anterior teeth. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 2007 Feb 1;131(2):162–9.
Beltrami F, Kiliaridis S, Antonarakis GS. Long-term stability of posterior crossbite correction, treated in the mixed or permanent dentition of growing children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Orthodontics & Craniofacial Research. 2024;27(1):1–14.
Forde K, Storey M, Littlewood SJ, Scott P, Luther F, Kang J. Bonded versus vacuum-formed retainers: a randomized controlled trial. Part 1: stability, retainer survival, and patient satisfaction outcomes after 12 months. Eur J Orthod. 2018 July 27;40(4):387–98.
Heier EE, Smit AD, Wijgaerts IA, Adriaens PA. Periodontal implications of bonded versus removable retainers. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. 1997 Dec 1;112(6):607–16.
Raja TA, Littlewood SJ, Munyombwe T, Bubb NL. Wear resistance of four types of vacuum-formed retainer materials: A laboratory study. Angle Orthod. 2014 July;84(4):656–64.
Sfondrini MF, Vallittu PK, Lassila LVJ, Viola A, Gandini P, Scribante A. Glass Fiber Reinforced Composite Orthodontic Retainer: In Vitro Effect of Tooth Brushing on the Surface Wear and Mechanical Properties. Materials (Basel). 2020 Feb 25;13(5):1028.
Little RM. The Irregularity Index: A quantitative score of mandibular anterior alignment. American Journal of Orthodontics. 1975 Nov 1;68(5):554–63.
Richmond S, Shaw WC, O’Brien KD, Buchanan IB, Jones R, Stephens CD, et al. The development of the PAR Index (Peer Assessment Rating): reliability and validity. Eur J Orthod. 1992 Apr 1;14(2):125–39.