What is the recommended wear protocol for Hawley retainers?
The standard protocol involves three phases:
- Initial phase (3-6 months) requires 22-24 hours of daily wear for primary stabilization
- Transitional phase (6-12 months) reduces to 12-16 hours daily for secondary stabilization
- Long-term maintenance phase involves nighttime-only wear (8-12 hours) indefinitely.
Clinical studies show 95% success rates with night-only wear after 12 months, comparable to full-time protocols.