Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi Sportsgrl. I only have a permanent wire on my bottom teeth too. My orthodontist only has me wearing my upper Hawley for 10 hours a day, mostly over night. That way, the bottoms will mesh with the uppers during the day while eating, etc. He said they should be fine. I don't know if they could rota...

Hi Clo. Glad your Hawley is doing it's job. Yes, I just have a regular Hawley for the top arch. I wear it 10 hours evening and night. After about 8 to 10 hours without it, I can tell that my teeth have shifted some....

Good luck to you, Attagirl

Hi Brooke. My orhtodontist put me in a bite positoner to finalize my bite. I notice if I go without wearing it for a few days my very back teeth don't seem to meet. I think it is because they are starting to slant back to there original positons. So, if this is the case an upper and lower Hawley cou...

Hi Tinman, my othrodontist told me it could take up to a year for my teeth to settle and firm up within the bone. Brooke, As for them moving and needing adjustments, bone breaks down and reforms, and since our teeth want to go back to their original positons, we need the retainers tweeked. This is j...

Since I don't have a clue on that, would it be possible for you to call your orthodontist's emergency number and ask them what to do? It probably isn't a big deal, but that way the ball is in their court....

Good luck.

You have only had it about 6 weeks, so you still need to wear it some. If it really hurts you to wear it at night, maybe you could wear it for a couple of hours morning and night until you see your ortho. By wearing it during the day, you can control how much pressure you put into biting it.... Just...

Hi Butterfly. Call your ortho's office. Yes, he can tweek your positioner. I had to have mine tweeked once, and will again after I get my crown in a couple of weeks.

Hi Dramaqueendaisy. I had one come off when my braces were removed. I ended up stopping at the dentist where my husband goes and they checked it out and recemented it. (My dentist was not availabe). When I explained the situation to my dental hygenist, she said if it ever happens again to put it bac...

Hi Butterfly. The permanent retainer isn't bad. My orthodontist raised it up slightly more than normal because I make a LOT of tartar and it could play havoc with my gums. I don't know if that is the reason, I am almost constantly playing with it with my tongue... My permanent retainer went on befor...

Hi Butterfly. Well I can answer some of your questions from my perspective. I have a lower permanent retainer, and yes food does get trapped in it. Ususally, I can swish water around it and get it free, but sometimes little pieces get stuck in the corners. At that point I get out a little tooth pick...

Hi Paparazzi. I have been busy and away from the board myself. Glad the positioner did the trick. Do you still have to wear it? I do, 3 to 4 times a week but only for an hour. As for the Hawley (I only have an upper one), I find it quite comfortable. It is very similar to what I first wore as a nigh...

bracey, if you can, why not get a couple of more oppinions. I was told I needed bottom surgery for it to be perfect, but my ortho was willing to work to get the best possible results without it. (I must have been close to borderling not needing it?). Anyway, he improved my bite 100%, I just noticed ...

Hi Serendipity. Congrats on your up coming debanding. My orthodontist likes to use the Hawley retainer. That was good, because that is what I wanted. That being said, he would not give me a lower Hawley, said that most people would not wear them as they were bulky. He put a permanent retainer on my ...

Hi Loch. I would recommend calling your orthodontist's office. They will tell you how to treat your retainers. I have a Hawley type and was told to brush it with toothpaste or use retainer brite, but not to leave it soaking for a long period of time.

Congratulations on getting your braces off.

Well, Wednesday is here and so is a major snow storm. :yikes: I am due at the dentist's office at 9:30. Since they haven't even plowed our road, I think I will be calling in my cancellation - hopefully it won't cost me anything. (I live 23 miles from my dentist). Fins, I feel for you and Chris with ...