Hawley or Essix retainer? I can't decide...

[gary]

Thanks. As I've said a solid few times on this forum already...



Nothing is easy with this crap.

[badbite]

My bottom one is worse. For the first week I would take it out if I had to make a phone call. You'd be surprised how fast a month goes!

[ellen]

I'm getting debanded next week (!) and will find out then which retainer I will get. I have an essix for the top now which I only wear at night (I only have braces on the bottom teeth), and it's fine. You have to take the essix out to eat and drink anything other than water, but I suppose you have to do that with the hawley as well.

[Chicagogal]

I was JUST doing research on this! I love it when that happens :)

I thought I REALLY wanted essix. I mean, they're clear and wouldn't let my teeth bang together at night (I'm sort of a clencher while sleeping). My boyfriend's essix retainers are 11 years old. He loves them, no cracks, but I think they look absolutely disgusting at this point. Yellow and cloudy, even with care. My mom's hawley looks the same after almost 20 years.

My ortho is pretty old school. I doubt that he does anything but hawley, but I might ask for both.

speaking: I was back to pretty normal with my palate expander after 2 full weeks last year, I anticipate retainer will be the same (that's what I recall from my 4th grade retainer anyway).