Braces off next month

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#1 Post by **jun08** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:45 am

My braces will be coming off next month after a 28 month long journey. I might be wearing retainers full time for 6 mons and then maybe at night.

1. What should I expect on that appt and after?
2. Can I ask for a transparent retainers? Or does the doc tell me what kind I'll get based on my jaw set?
3. How many types of retainers are there?

Thanks,

#2 Post by **hal2me** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:05 am

I cannot answer your questions because I am not there yet, but wanted to say congratulations! How exciting for you!!!

#3 Post by **haywire** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 10:19 am

i know 3 types of retainers
1. hawley retainer
2. essix retainer
3. wire glued behind teeth (usually used only on the lower teeth)

the ortho will give you the right retainer suitable for your treatment, for example in my case i will have #2 & #3

good luck

#4 Post by **jun08** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 6:19 pm

Thanks folks!!!

What should I expect on the day of removal? Will it be painful? Will I be able to eat/drink normally immediately??? I'm sure such questions have been answered here earlier. I can't seem to find them : (

When will they take the impressions for the retainer? Shouldn't they have taken it prior to removing braces?

Sorry for the many ques, I am kinda excited !!!
Thanks,

#5 Post by **pasr16** » Tue Sep 14, 2010 8:24 pm

Congrats!! i asked my ortho about retainers and i was told i can't wear essix because of my overbite but i don't think there would be any other reason for you not to choose the rertainer you want as most orthos let pt's choose. as far as removal, i've heard it's not bad as far as pain goes unless you have very sensitive teeth(but that's just what ive read and heard so it doesnt have much weight) anyway i bet the excitement makes you forget about the discomfort and any other thing for that matter. hope everything goes well and good luck!!!

#6 Post by **Lynette** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 1:21 am

This is my second time in braces. The first time I had braces (5 years ago) I had a bonded retainer on both top and bottom.

About 2 years later the bottom bonded retainer became loose and I pulled it out myself. I was too lazy to get my bonded retainer glued back in and here I am another 3 years later with braces again because my bottom teeth have shifted.

My current ortho hates bonded retainers because if they become loose or fall out, the teeth may start to shift in the time it takes to get a new bonded one glued in.

He also said the essix are good because if you forget to wear them for a couple of days and put them back in, the essix should guide the teeth back into place unlike the bonded retainer which doesn't move any teeth, just keeps them still.

I would go for 2 retainers. Maybe the bonded and then an essix for back up. Or 2 sets of essix's, so if one set breaks or gets lost then you have another set as a back up.

Unfortunately I am not familiar with the hawley retainer.

#7 Post by **jun08** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:56 am

Thanks for all the responses.

When does the ortho decide on which type of retainer? Is it on the day of brace removal, or prior to that? When do they get impressions etc. They didn't get my impressions or indicate what type of retainers I'll have. But I was told - "It's going to come off when we see you next"!

#8 Post by **hj55** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:36 am

I chose to have boded retainers top & bottom & had the impressions for them taken at my final adjustment.

Then about 4 weeks later I had the bonded retainers placed before my braces were removed. At that appointment I also had impressions taken for the removable retainers. I collected those the next day.

If I hadn't opted for the bonded retainers I would have had impressions taken for the removable retainers while I still had braces.

The process of removing the braces was quite straightforward, just felt some pressure but my teeth were quite sensitive for about 6 weeks post braces - I had the braces removed on 8 July & am just about happy with apples and crusty bread now! I certainly didn't want them the day my braces were removed but did enjoy a curry!!

#9 Post by **catgyrl** » Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:48 am

This is a great thread - thanks for posting it!

I was told at my consultation that I would probably be receiving a bonded retainer on my bottom teeth and a removable Essix retainer for the top (or was it bonded AND Essix for bottom, and Essix only for the top?) I thought that was kind of odd, because my biggest problem was a massive overjet and I'd think that I would need the bonded one on the top more so than the bottom. But we shall see when the time comes.

I recently had my metal brackets removed and replaced with ceramic. The bracket removal - I didn't feel a darn thing! I thought they'd just opened the bracket doors and taken the wire out. Actually, they had just clipped all the brackets off. The sanding down of the glue was a bit sore, because of certain teeth that were hyper-sensitive, but even that didn't last long.

Congrats to you!
-Cathy

#10 Post by **jun08** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 12:48 pm

I just got debraced this afternoon. I'll be getting Hawley retainers on Mon, 18th. After lunch, I see that the gap between the front two teeth is noticeable. It was fine with braces. I freaked out and called the ortho and have an appt t o have him check it out tomm. I wanted to find out if anyone had similar experience.

I'm afraid that they'll brace me back again!? Am I paranoid for no reason?
Please help !!!

#11 Post by **VA5** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:12 pm

Interesting.. seems like the orthos already have a preference for a certain type of retainer from the get go? Or is it case by case? My ortho hasn't told me for sure what I'd have but has mentioned getting the fixed one initially and then later get the removeable. However I'd like to just get both.. I'm SO paranoid that my teeth will shift later. Also, I'd like to have no lapse in time at all in between braces and retainers.

Also, it seems like orthos take molds for the retainers at different times.. either during braces, or after debracing. Why do they do this differently? I'd think that if it's possible to do the molds during braces, that all orthos would do it this way.

What I'm wondering is.. will it be harmful if, during the period when I'm supposed to be wearing my retainers 24-7.. will it be okay to keep them off for hours at a time, like when I have a wedding to go to, or another special occasion?

#12 Post by **hal2me** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 6:59 am

Thanks for posting this thread! I got a date for next month too and have the same questions.

#13 Post by **kaylaa** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 1:35 pm

I think that if you get impressions after you get your braces off, they will make an essix retainer. The retainer needs to fit snugly against your teeth. If you get impressions while still being braced you will probably get a permanent or hawley retainer. I was told I would get a hawley on top and a permanent on bottom, but I wonder if they would make me a permanent AND an essix on bottom since I grind my teeth at night or if I should get a nightguard on bottom for night time wear..