Braces off, unwarranted anxiety

[nuttynat]

After 2 years 4 months my braces came off today! Yippee. I know I should be super excited and I am, but in the same token I am also anxious. I'm nervous that eating will cause disruptions to my alignment and I'm nervous that my open bite will return. I have permanent bonded retainers upper and lower (and was super happy to see that they are the wave ones, you know the ones you can floss easily with!) and will be getting an upper removable retainer also (not sure why). Rather than enjoying this moment, I am paranoid... Is it unwarranted? I need some reassurance

Natalie
p.s with the braces off my teeth look huge ... and whiter

[kennyandrew85]

I think I'll be the same.
As long as you're wearing your retainer at night I can't see why they would move, the retainer should always force them back to their original spots even if they did !

Congrats on having them removed, I wish I'd just had mine off!

[trisportgirl]

I think a little it of worry is good because it means that you will maintain them better, and watch for any movement. However, you shouldn't feel anxiety about it - remember, your orthodontist knows what he/she is doing (hopefully!) and has done this tons of times before. Unless you're not wearing your retainer the way you should be (and this isn't even an issue if you have a permanent retainer), there's no way your teeth should move back to their pre-braced positions.

Congratulations on de-bracing!

[nifer237]

I hear you. All I have heard from people when they see I have braces is the horror stories of how they didn't wear their retainer and their teeth moved back. I think with your built-ins, you'll be ok. It's good that it's on your radar, but don't stress about it too much to where you're not enjoying your new smile!

[blackapple]

I am sweating bullets too about tooth movement and I have one more month with the braces on. I plan on following the his plan to the T as I don't want my teeth to shift back.

[denSMSgt]

I don't want to sound like a negative nancy or cause undue alarm, but permanent bonded retainers can fail!

I had one on the bottom and it came partially un-bonded over time, not on the outer teeth that would be easy to tell, but on the centre ones. It seems now many orthodontists that use the bonded retainers, recommend essix at night as well. If that had been the case with me, I don't think I'd be in the partial relapse boat I'm in now a decade later.

Just be VERY mindful of permanent bonded retainers and watch close! If you can also get essix for wear at night, I'd highly recommend too.

In chatting with the staff of my current orthodontist, it sounds like they deal with quite a few cases of permanent retainer problems and relapse and as a rule do NOT use them now on their patients.

Best of luck and SMILE!

d

[rtergeggde]

i feel the same way.

i'll be putting my veggies in the blender, and my protein will come from ground beef and eggs.