[Factors playing a part in the failure of retention wires].

Retention plays an important part during orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment can be divided into 2 phases: an active phase in which treatment is carried out with orthodontic appliances and a second, passive phase with retention, with which an attempt is made to prevent a return to the original or another position. In practice, fixed retainers with a retention wire are usually chosen because of the many advantages of such wires.