What does a wire dental retainer treat?

A wire dental retainer keeps your teeth in place and in correct alignment after your braces do the hard work of moving the teeth into the right position. The retainer is used in the “retention” phase of treatment, much like a retaining wall holds back the earth behind it. Teeth are forced to move to a new position during the “active” phase of treatment (braces), and may shift back to that prior, incorrect position without a retainer to keep them in place.