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After two years, I got my top braces off today (YAY). However now I'm told to wear this 24 hours a day for 9-12 months and then I get to go to nightly. For life.
Questions:
1) Do you ever get used to having this hunk of plastic in your mouth? Do you ever not notice it is there? I've had it in for 9 hours today and seriously I am not adjusting to this well at all. I cannot stand having this thing rubbing against my tongue. Is it supposed to be flush with the roof of your mouth? Because it seems to me like there is a space inbetween the retainer and the roof of my mouth, like maybe it is not fitted properly. I think if it were up against the roof of my mouth I would not feel it so much on my tongue.
2) Do people really need to wear these for life or is it just me and my teeth?
3) Please offer any tips to help make this transition, thanks.
Yes; you'll get used to it. It'll take a couple of weeks.
No; It's not supposed to be 100% flush; if it was, temporary swelling of your palate (i.e. a slight burn, a mug of hot coffee, etc.) would cause your retainer to not fit.
Yes; you'll need to wear it for life for the best results. Some relapse is inevitable when/if you ever stop wearing it entirely. Obviously there will be more relapse if you stop now, less the longer you wait. And the amount of relapse varies by case; a crowding case without extractions is going to relapse more than an arch with plenty of space.
After treatment #2 I had an upper Hawley retainer I wore religiously for 12+ years before starting treatment #3. I would also suggest you take it with you to regular dentist appointments if you are needing any restorative work, crowns, etc. so your dentist can make sure it continues to fit properly.
One thing I keep saying to everyone - wear it for life! No exceptions!
I deeply regret not wearing mine and now I'm back in braces 10 years later.
I got used to mine - but I found if I stopped wearing it for a few days (don't do this!) I would have to get used to it all over again. I'd lisp and it would be uncomfortable.
If it's still uncomfortable a few weeks in, tell your ortho. I had to get edges of mine shaved off a few times because it would rub and annoy me too much. They can do this in their office, and test fit it a few times until you're both completely happy.
I have to say that an essix looks a lot less creepy.
I'll be wearing an occlusal splint (due to bruxism), which I was wearing pre-braces and I'd already accepted was for life. Essix during the day initially. But that's a long way off for me.
I am finding that 24 hours later it is getting slightly better however I have noticed that my tongue is sore from rubbing up against the plastic. I wish it was smoother. I will see him again in 3 weeks and ask him to check the fit.
It was so great to floss my upper teeth last night the regular way. How I've missed that
I wore my retainer mostly every night from the age of 16 to age 35 when I accidentally broke it. I figured almost 20 years was good enough to keep my teeth in place, right? Wrong! The shift in my teeth was very gradual initially. One day, I realized that they were starting to look a little more crooked. I figured that would be the extent of the shifting and I could live with that. Now, almost 15 years later they have completely returned to their original position and I am getting braces for the second time in just 5 more days!
It really stinks that your teeth constantly try to move back to their original place. I don't understand it! But, I will wear my next retainer for life now that I have to pay to fix my teeth again!
Dana6 wrote:I wore my retainer mostly every night from the age of 16 to age 35 when I accidentally broke it. I figured almost 20 years was good enough to keep my teeth in place, right? Wrong! The shift in my teeth was very gradual initially. One day, I realized that they were starting to look a little more crooked. I figured that would be the extent of the shifting and I could live with that. Now, almost 15 years later they have completely returned to their original position and I am getting braces for the second time in just 5 more days!
It really stinks that your teeth constantly try to move back to their original place. I don't understand it! But, I will wear my next retainer for life now that I have to pay to fix my teeth again!
Wow that is a story I will remember thanks. I can handle it while sleeping!
Dana6 wrote:I wore my retainer mostly every night from the age of 16 to age 35 when I accidentally broke it. I figured almost 20 years was good enough to keep my teeth in place, right? Wrong! The shift in my teeth was very gradual initially. One day, I realized that they were starting to look a little more crooked. I figured that would be the extent of the shifting and I could live with that. Now, almost 15 years later they have completely returned to their original position and I am getting braces for the second time in just 5 more days!
It really stinks that your teeth constantly try to move back to their original place. I don't understand it! But, I will wear my next retainer for life now that I have to pay to fix my teeth again!
I wouldn't wait for three weeks. It shouldn't feel like an instrument of torture even on the first day. I had a wire poking my cheek and one side of plastic digging into my gum when I first got Hawley retainers. I went back as soon as I could. After my ortho made some adjustments, I didn't have any discomfort.
After two years, I got my top braces off today (YAY). However now I'm told to wear this 24 hours a day for 9-12 months and then I get to go to nightly. For life.
Questions:
1) Do you ever get used to having this hunk of plastic in your mouth? Do you ever not notice it is there? I've had it in for 9 hours today and seriously I am not adjusting to this well at all. I cannot stand having this thing rubbing against my tongue. Is it supposed to be flush with the roof of your mouth? Because it seems to me like there is a space inbetween the retainer and the roof of my mouth, like maybe it is not fitted properly. I think if it were up against the roof of my mouth I would not feel it so much on my tongue.
2) Do people really need to wear these for life or is it just me and my teeth?
3) Please offer any tips to help make this transition, thanks.
OMG! It looks like it's gonna bite!! I feel bad for you and I hope I won't have to get one EVER.
Dana6 wrote:I wore my retainer mostly every night from the age of 16 to age 35 when I accidentally broke it. I figured almost 20 years was good enough to keep my teeth in place, right? Wrong! The shift in my teeth was very gradual initially. One day, I realized that they were starting to look a little more crooked. I figured that would be the extent of the shifting and I could live with that. Now, almost 15 years later they have completely returned to their original position and I am getting braces for the second time in just 5 more days!
It really stinks that your teeth constantly try to move back to their original place. I don't understand it! But, I will wear my next retainer for life now that I have to pay to fix my teeth again!
wow Dana. I, too, will remember your story. Thanks for giving us the benefit of your own experience.
JillD wrote:I wouldn't wait for three weeks. It shouldn't feel like an instrument of torture even on the first day. I had a wire poking my cheek and one side of plastic digging into my gum when I first got Hawley retainers. I went back as soon as I could. After my ortho made some adjustments, I didn't have any discomfort.
Interestingly on Day 3, it's not bothering my tongue as much but now the right side wire is poking my lip. It seems it sticks out more than the left side. Which is strange that this would only occur after a few days, as if my teeth are continuing to shift. I think he said something about how I could try and bend the wire back myself if it was uncomfortable but I am kind of afraid to mess with it. These things are really expensive, no?
To me it just looks like a really disgusting sea creature.
Congratulations on getting your top braces off! When you get your bottom ones off, I highly recommended the bonded retainer. Trust me, you don't want a Hawley on top and bottom.
1) From what I've heard, you do get used to it in your mouth. Just like everything else. You've only wore it for 9 hours. It will take a couple days to a week and then you should be good.
2) It's everyone. 9 months 24/7 and then nightly wear for the rest of your life or they will move back to their original position unfortunately :/
3) I would ask your orthodontist if he could cut it down. It can be cut down a LOT smaller than that. I'm not sure why your orthodontist didn't do this, most do to make it more comfortable. Other than this, I would suggest going out and having fun. Doing stuff to keep your mind off it.
Really, you mean like remove some of the plastic at the back? Interestingly, I'm getting used to having it against my tongue, I don't notice as much. Last night I couldn't take the right side poking into my lip a minute longer so I bent that piece back and it's much better, although now it takes a little more work to get it into place.
I'm curious if there is any concern of the metal scratching your teeth every time you take it on or off, i.e. is it wearing away the enamel? I wonder if I was a kid in a retainer I'd be thinking of these things ... probably not but possibly, I was that kind of inquisitive kid..
