Metal Mouth Message Board

I've had a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth for almost 15 years, it was thin and small and I barely noticed it, it was great. It recently broke and I went to get it replaced, and the new one they put on is SUPER bulky and is driving me insane. They told me I would get used to it in a week but I definitely have not, I notice it all the time and especially as I eat or drink as my tongue rubs against it. The glue they put on has big globs on every tooth, and it's very close to my gums. Is this normal??? I don't know what to do... I don't really want to change to a retainer that I wear every night, my old bonded one was so great I wish I could have just gotten that same thing again (which I thought I was getting!). Should I go back and ask them to do it again, or go to a different orthodontist?? I don't want to have to pay for another one, but thinking it would be worth my sanity!!!

I would be inclined to pop back to your ortho to see what they can do. Maybe they made this one slightly different for a reason so should be able to offer you an explanation or suggest a resolution.

I would suggest going back and asking them to smooth down the tops of the glue to make them more comfortable. This can be easily accomplished with a dental polishing bur. Don’t know why they would have placed the bonded retainer close to the gum line as this might hinder flossing (mine are in the middle of my teeth).

Good luck.

josephdiaz25 wrote:I have mines close to the gum lines on both top and bottoms and I dont like it, hard to floss that way, I will have it adjusted much higher, and mines is the kind thats the thick wire with a flat tab on each end, more reliable than the braided wires.

In what way is it more reliable than the braided wires?

Yes I'd go back and ask them to fix it. Especially if you've paid for it they should make sure you're happy with it.