A permanent retainer is a thin wire placed on the back of the teeth so that crowding does not come back, or spaces that were previously there before you got braces do not come back. It is considered permanent because you cannot remove it, but your orthodontist or dentist can easily remove it for you. It is simply glued onto the back of your teeth and is not invasive. You typically wear a clear retainer at night time over your permanent retainer, so that you do not grind your teeth and so that your back teeth do not shift. We recommend a permanent retainer for everyone who does not wear their clear retainer every night.