The answer is NO, the Hawley (also commonly known as the metal retainers) is made with acrylic and medical grade stainless steel wire. This wire is corrosion resistant. The enzymes in saliva can cause the acrylic to discolor over time. Over time the saliva travels down the wire inside the acrylic making the surrounding acrylic look brown or yellow like rust…but it is not rusting. Patients who have clear acrylic retainer see this more than colored acrylic retainers.