Permanent retainers

[sibilla]

Haven't posted for a while but, like most, am still skulking in the background and reading everyone's stories...

Am finally on the home stretch with power chains on top teeth - at my last appointment my ortho mentioned that he'd take the bottom ones off a couple of appts before the top to allow the top teeth to move back a bit - that was a shock (a good one!) talking about the end already...

I still have to wear one elastic but to be honest, I've got so used to it, I often find myself checking to make sure I've remembered to put it in!

Anyway... as I always do, I'm starting to get anxious about the permanent retainer - do they feel as horrible in the mouth as bite planes, do they affect your speech, does food get stuck in them the same as with braces, is it easy to keep teeth clean with them in??

Any answers gratefully received from those of you who've been there, done it and are wearing the t-shirt!

Thanks

[xanidu2012]

My son is 27 his braces came off when he was 15 and his ortho (which is my ortho now) put permanent retainers behind his uppers/lowers. He never complained about any pain or problems brushing teeth tops or behind and he's been using a water pik to clean and floss for his other teeth. His retainer came loose when he was 17 we went back to ortho. No "problems" since and he had the most beautiful smile and nice white teeth. The way he eats you would still think he has braces on

[Cassandra1995]

My ortho recommends permanent retainers for me, but I made it quite clear before beginning treatment that I really do not want them, and he is fine with that, though we will discuss is more. The main benefit seems to be that one won't have to be a conscientious retainer wearer (since you will have the permanent one) but one needs to be quite vigilant about hygiene. For me, once I'm done with the braces, I will be vigilant about removable retainers for life, but I really DO NOT want anything permanent in my mouth. 2 years of braces will be enough. Now, I'm just at the beginning of treatment, and I suppose I could change my mind, but at this point, I really don't want them. I have a friend whose daughter had to have them out because she had such trouble keeping the area clean.

Congrats on getting close to being done.

[xanidu2012]

I understand how you feel cassandra1995. This is my 2nd go round with braces. When I got done as a teenager I had removable retainers and I wasn't diligent about wearing them. Yes in other words lazy and now I have to go through this yet again. Im diligent about brushing, flossing, rinsing; but I know me and retainers. I'm opting for permanent because deep down I know I'll be lazy and that's just being realistic and honest to myself. Nobody knows me like I know myself

[gramma2xander]

Im so afraid my teeth will move back after braces that Im getting both permanent and removable.Not taking any chances as ive seen some people on here on their 2nd or 3rd time in braces!

[BraceFace2o1o]

Im so afraid my teeth will move back after braces that Im getting both permanent and removable.Not taking any chances as ive seen some people on here on their 2nd or 3rd time in braces!

Same here!

I wasn't so keen on the permanent retainers, especially when my ortho said at the start of my treatment that I would have one on upper and lower (I guess this could change). I want to retain these babies as best as I possibly can! I never want braces ever again.

[xanidu2012]

Amen to both the 2 above replies

[batwing]

One of my good friends had braces in her 30s and has permanent retainers on top and bottom. Her top retainer is made of a different material than her bottom though, and she also has a removable retainer for the top that she wears from time to time. Her are not visible at all from the front and I've only ever noticed them when she talked, yawned, chewed, etc. after she pointed it out to me and even then, you really have to look for them.

She didn't say anything to me about pain, and I haven't noticed any speech changes with hers. The only thing she said is that she gets food stuck in it, just like with braces. She has a bridge, and it's right up against her retainer, and she said that is the worst part. It's like a black hole for tiny bits of food. Things often get stuck between the retainer and her other dental work. She has had her braces off for about four years now, and her teeth look beautiful!

My orthodontist recommended a permanent retainer on the bottom for me and a removable on the top.

[sibilla]

Thanks for the replies .....

That's the part that worries me, I've had enough of food getting stuck... not sure I really want years and years of it.....

[MakeKeyOver]

I have a gap in my teeth and my orthodontist says that I will need a permanent retainer on the top and bottom and I will also need to wear a regular retainer every night indefinitely! I intend to follow that plan and comply fully because this is a lot of money and I don't want my teeth to relapse after braces.

[gj88]

apparently getting permanent retainer is the way to go..cousins had removable ones and their teeth shifted. Only one of them had the bonded one done and his teeth is still perfect.

[bushbaby]

I've just had permanent retainers put on top and bottom. I was really freaking out that it was going to be like having braces inside my teeth and that my mouth would never be my own again. I hadn't read all the negative stories on here, I had just imagined this all myself. However I have to say that I have barely noticed them since they went in. The bottom one felt odd for a day or two as my tongue was drawn to it, but I can honestly say I don't realise they're there. I can eat, drink brush, floss etc completely normally. Its almost like I made it such a big deal that the reality was a complete non-event.

[sibilla]

Thank you bushbaby - good to hear from a fellow Brit!

I'm hoping too that I'm making a bigger deal of it in my head than needs be. Two of the receptionists at my orthodontic practice also have permanent retainers top and bottom and have been at pains to reassure me as well. For me, too, it's the feeling of my mouth not feeling my own ever again... but I really do appreciate your reply and thanks to everyone else who replied too.

Have been told the braces will definitely be off by Christmas! What a fantastic present!

[zdenka]

First of all congrats.... wow before Christmas sounds so close

About the retainers. My ortho told me I would have a lower permanent and an upper "semi permanent" She said they look the same but the upper one will be removed after about 6 years (I mean I would call 6 years pretty permanent too but that's just me)

After that I will still have retainers to wear at night.

[sibilla]

I know! it's so close I can almost touch it! Talk about wishing my life away though!

Apparently I'll have permanent top and bottom and a removable one to wear at night for a while as well. I must admit, as time goes on, I'm getting less worried about the permanent retainers as I get more excited about the braces coming off. I keep trying to 'look past' the braces to imagine what my teeth are going to look like. There's still some final tweaking to do - one front tooth being incredibly stubborn and is taking its own sweet time to de-rotate but I'm sure it'll get there eventually..Perhaps if I stop looking at it every few hours I'll start to see notice some progress!