Effectiveness of lingual retainers bonded to the canines in preventing mandibular incisor relapse.
Fixed lingual retainers were introduced in the 1970s by Knelrim[8].
E: Environment (oral hygiene, habits, poor brushing, poor orthodontic mechanics, active lingual retainers).
It is not known if bonded lingual retainers have a negative effect on the periodontal tissues [13, 24].
The possible development of gingival recession due to active multistranded lingual retainers was discussed in light of current findings[15, 16].
This is evidenced by marked geographical variation with maxillary Hawley or vacuum-formed retainers and mandibular fixed lingual retainers with full-time wear of removable retainers most popular in the USA [4, 5].
Many studies have shown no significant evidence regarding any damage caused to periodontium or soft tissues adjacent to teeth, after using fixed lingual retainers even for long durations [9 14, 24].
There was also a significant correlation (p = 0.039) between dental crowding of the anterior lower teeth with IIIB position at T0 and if the patient finished orthodontic treatment without lingual retainers.
Each patient received either of the two fixed lingual retainers: the fiber-reinforced resin composite (fiber strand: NSI Ltd., Hornsby, Australia, composite: Filtek ™ Z250, 3M Unitek, USA) bonded on the lingual surfaces of the six upper and lower anterior teeth or a multi-stranded 0.0175-in.
Interestingly, Gorelick et al.5 found no incidence of white spot formation associated with lingual bonded retainers, which would suggest salivary buffering capacity, and flow rate have a role in protection against acid attack.
