Lifelong retainers
Moderator: bbsadmin
Lifelong retainers
Hi, I've just got a quick query about the 'classic' train track braces.
As an adult who has been dissatisifed with his teeth for many years I've often considered getting braces to correct my teeth. However, I repeatedly hear that after any treatment using braces, as an adult, I would have to wear some kind of 'retainer' brace for the rest of my life to keep my realigned teeth in place.
Is this a blanket approach by orthodontists - or is the lieflong 'retainer' brace just for a few 'bad' cases?
As an adult who has been dissatisifed with his teeth for many years I've often considered getting braces to correct my teeth. However, I repeatedly hear that after any treatment using braces, as an adult, I would have to wear some kind of 'retainer' brace for the rest of my life to keep my realigned teeth in place.
Is this a blanket approach by orthodontists - or is the lieflong 'retainer' brace just for a few 'bad' cases?
Re: Lifelong retainers
Since I had my metal brace removed last April....I have worn my essix retainer everyday...the first 6 months I wore them day & night, but since then I only wear them at night to sleep in and sometimes during the day when Im just around the home......but I NEVER go to bed without them!Hi, I've just got a quick query about the 'classic' train track braces.
As an adult who has been dissatisifed with his teeth for many years I've often considered getting braces to correct my teeth. However, I repeatedly hear that after any treatment using braces, as an adult, I would have to wear some kind of 'retainer' brace for the rest of my life to keep my realigned teeth in place.
Is this a blanket approach by orthodontists - or is the lieflong 'retainer' brace just for a few 'bad' cases?
I notice they always feel abit tighter when I put them on at night so I think teeth def move if you dont wear them?
Ive not had any gaps appear or tooth movement and thats the way I want to keep it so I will wear my retainer to sleep in, for life!
I really dont mind.....I dont even think about it
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BRACED - 21ST JUNE 2004
BRACE REMOVED- 11TH APRIL 2005
STARTED WEARING A RETAINER - 14TH APRIL 2005
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BRACED - 21ST JUNE 2004
BRACE REMOVED- 11TH APRIL 2005
STARTED WEARING A RETAINER - 14TH APRIL 2005
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- Posts: 533
- Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:57 am
- Location: Australia
My ortho says "if you like them [when the braces come off] and want to keep them that way..." it's retainers for life, I'm afraid. I'm not fussed about it really; I'm paying so much to improve my bite and dental health, it seems a bit redundant to let all this hard work be for nothing!
At this stage I'm looking at 2-3 years 'active retention', then retainers at night for the long haul. I'm ok with that. If we can cope with all the stuff they put in our mouth during the ortho process, I'm sure we can cope with retention!
But then, it's up to you I guess. I know what I'll be doing...
At this stage I'm looking at 2-3 years 'active retention', then retainers at night for the long haul. I'm ok with that. If we can cope with all the stuff they put in our mouth during the ortho process, I'm sure we can cope with retention!
But then, it's up to you I guess. I know what I'll be doing...
Depending on what was done in your treatment, yes you will need to wear a retainer 24/7 for at least the first few months after you get your braces off. You MUST follow the advice of your ortho in this regard!
After that, most people can wear it only at night -- every night.
After around a year, you can wear it 3 to 4 nights per week, as long as nothing seems to be moving or shifting.
But if you don't wear the retainer, or stop wearing it after a while, your teeth will move.
If you need to know more about the types of retainers, look at this link:
http://www.archwired.com/FAQ.htm#RET
After that, most people can wear it only at night -- every night.
After around a year, you can wear it 3 to 4 nights per week, as long as nothing seems to be moving or shifting.
But if you don't wear the retainer, or stop wearing it after a while, your teeth will move.
If you need to know more about the types of retainers, look at this link:
http://www.archwired.com/FAQ.htm#RET
I'm the owner/admin of this site. Had ceramic uppers, metal lowers ~3 years in my early 40's. Now in Hawley retainers at night!
I have a permanent retainer which is a small wire bonded to the back of my front teeth. I'm finding this very comfortable to wear and after the first 10 minutes barely notice it there. This will stop my front teeth only from moving, I will be wearing a removable retainer at night that just slips over my teeth to keep the back teeth and my bite aligned.
If you are serious about orthodontic treatment then I would enquire about permanent retainers as they really are much less hassle than the removal ones and are completely invisible to anyone else.
If you are serious about orthodontic treatment then I would enquire about permanent retainers as they really are much less hassle than the removal ones and are completely invisible to anyone else.
Hi!
My ortho straightaway, at the initial consulation, told me there's no way he's sending me off to work in a plate and would bond a retainer to the back of my teeth. I think it was amazing that he understood how self conscious I would feel (although you would think by that time comes I would be used to metal in my mouth!)
I had never heard of this until he mentioned it, maybe it's something you could look into. Not only for the aesthetics but you wouldn't have to remember to wear it as it's always there.
My ortho straightaway, at the initial consulation, told me there's no way he's sending me off to work in a plate and would bond a retainer to the back of my teeth. I think it was amazing that he understood how self conscious I would feel (although you would think by that time comes I would be used to metal in my mouth!)
I had never heard of this until he mentioned it, maybe it's something you could look into. Not only for the aesthetics but you wouldn't have to remember to wear it as it's always there.
Banded 22 June 2006.
Debanded 24 July 2007.
Loving it!
Debanded 24 July 2007.
Loving it!
i can handle having the retainer indefinitely -after all - for the amount of money being spent for these, i want them to stay straight. Plus my husband and i will look great together -him with his sleep apnea machine and me with a mouthful of orthodontia!! The sandman will be overwhelmed with us.
Spacers in 17 June 2006
top braced 28 June 06
bottom spacers 6 November 06
bottom braced 16 November 06
top braced 28 June 06
bottom spacers 6 November 06
bottom braced 16 November 06
I'm definitely with you there. I never want to go through braces again so I will wear that retainer perfectlyi can handle having the retainer indefinitely -after all - for the amount of money being spent for these, i want them to stay straight. .
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Ceramic top braces: January 9th, 2006
Metal bottom braces: May 1st, 2006
Well... you'll probably get a bit lazy about it eventually and skip a night or two here and there. Everyone does. But the good news is that by the time you start getting lazy you're usually at the stage where you only need to wear it 3 - 4 nights per week anyway (18 months - 2 years after braces come off). As long as the laziness is confined to 3 - 4 nights per week wear then it's usually A-OK. (I speak as a 2.5-years-post-braces lazy retainer wearer... although I would never give it up completely.)I never want to go through braces again so I will wear that retainer perfectly
I had my braces removed when I was 16. I was told to wear my retainers 24/7 for the first six months, then nightly for the next 6 months, and after that I could wear them every other day for a year and I'd be good. Well, by the time I thought I'd "be good" I went off to college and left my retainers at home. After my first semester in college, I went home and tried on the retainers and they didn't fit. My teeth eventually got worse (even worse than before the braces). So here I am, braced again at 25. For me, the novelty of the braces is fun and all, but I really don't want to go in for a third time ten years from now. Once I get these off I plan on wearing my retainers for as long as my mouth can hold on to them. But then again, I may be self-diagnosing me to be one of the bad cases