Patent ID: 8727769

Claim:
A dental retainer comprising: a cast metal frame having a first segment for contacting the buccal surface of at least one distal tooth of a user of the retainer, a second segment for contacting the distal surface of a distal most tooth of a user of the retainer, a third segment for contacting the lingual surface of teeth of a user of the retainer; and a labial bow, the labial bow comprising a holding member and a supporting member with the holding member and the supporting member being in contact by a joint between the holding member and the supporting member, wherein the holding member is formed of a highly oriented polymer and is configured to be placed against the front teeth of a user of the retainer, is elastically deformable, has a first portion with at least one flat surface and a second portion extending from the first portion, the second portion having a length with an outer diameter, the joint comprising a coil extending from the supporting member and having an inner diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the second portion of the holding member and being placed around at least a portion of the second portion of the holding member whereby the coil compresses or is compressed against the second portion of the holding member to form the joint between the holding member and the supporting member, and wherein the supporting member is attached to the first segment of the cast metal frame.