Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi everyone,

I am getting my braces on March 27th (top ceramic and bottom metal). I am expected to have them for two years, then obtain a permanent bottom retainer and a removable top retainer. My question is why don't orthodontists offer a permanent retainer on top as well? The reason I ask is because I have known a few people who had stopped wearing the top retainer after a few years for a period of time and their teeth started to shift and create gaps, and ended up having to pay for a top permanent retainer anyway. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with this or is planning to get a permanent top retainer as well as bottom? I plan to ask my orthodontist when I see her next, but thought I'd ask around too.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Permanent uppers are more vulnerable to popping off due to things such as hard foods.

It all depends on your treatment plan.

I do not need a bonded permanent retainer on bottom but I do need one on top. Why? My teeth are susceptible to having a gap (diastema). It was about 5 mm before getting braced and is now closed.

It also just depends on your ortho. Mine uses permanent top and bottom, as well as clear retainers at night.

So I spoke with my ortho who told me that she doesn't normally recommend upper permanent retainers due to difficulty cleaning and likelihood of breaking off due to the bite. She said that I COULD get it if I wanted to, but she said something about still having to use the removeable retainer in the first year 24/7, regardless. Does that mean I would wear both?

Also, when you have a removeable retainer, are you supposed to remove it every time you eat? Seems like such a hassle, especially if you're in public.

I wear both. It was a hassle to wear removable retainers 24/7. Now that I wear them only at night, I don't think about them.

I wear both too. But a bonded retainer for upper teeth is, as Nikkiebabie says, unsuitable for many people because their bottom teeth will press against it when their bite is closed.

A bonded retainer is by no means 100% failproof. I have recently had a week of not wearing my hawley retainer at night because one of the rear clasps was irritating a minor gum infection. I have noticed that a tiny gap has re-opened between my central incisors. I have checked the bonded retainer and it has not become unglued - but it evidently needs the back-up of the hawley which I will wear for longer hours during the next few weeks.

Jem