Conventional Retainers Versus Vacuum Formed Retainers: Comparing Conventional and Vacuum-Formed Retainers: Pros, Cons, and Best Uses

1) The effectiveness of vacuum formed retainers was more as compared to conventional Hawley’s retainer.2) In terms of speech articulation, appearance and comfort, vacuum formed retainers proved to be more respectable than the conventional retainers and more effective clinically. The patient seemed to be more satisfied while wearing the vacuum formed retainers.3) As far as durability and survival of the retainer is concerned, fewer breakages were reported in Hawley’s retainers than the vacuum formed retainers.4) When comparing the oral hygiene maintenance of the two, Hawley’s retainers proved to maintain better hygiene than the thermoplastic retainers, in terms of swallowing of fluid and saliva. Whereas no difference in periodontal outcome was observed when comparing the two groups.5) In terms of affordability, vacuum formed retainers are found to be more cost effective than the conventional retainers.