Hawley Retainers
When it’s time for your braces to come off, the next step is to wear retainers for several months. This is so your teeth stay in the same position they were at the day your braces were removed. The most common type of retainer is called the Hawley Retainer. It is essentially a metal wire anchored on molded acrylic specially designed to fit on your palate or the bottom of your mouth. The metal wire surrounds your teeth and keeps them in place.
During the first few days of using a Hawley retainer, you might experience more saliva in your mouth than usual. This is normal because the presence of a foreign object in your mouth stimulates your saliva glands. It might also be difficult to speak and eat once you start wearing your retainer but this will go away as you get used to your retainer.