Bite better after slight relapse

[SimInsomniac]

I'm not really sure what to do here, but this matter keeps bugging me and I'm only just starting retention.
I got my braces off 11 days ago and got my Essix retainer last Thursday. So far I've been wearing it full time apart from eating/cleaning.

So the thing is, during the week I waited for the retainer without braces, my teeth moved slightly and began to look much better: more leveled. The bite was also really good: with full contact, it looked right and was comfortable.
When I received my retainer, they of course moved back to the original state from the week before, and when I take them out my bite doesn't feel so good: one of my front teeth hits the lower one harder than the other due to slight overlapping. They also don't look as balanced with this same offender being higher than the other. (I know this sounds confusing, I'll have to get photos of the differences.)
Last night, I took a break from the retainer because some of my gum was bleeding with it in, so I wanted it to heal. I woke up this morning with my teeth looking as they did before the retainer, no problems biting at all.

I'm wondering what my options are here...
Ideally, I'd like to keep my teeth in the better state but I'd need a new retainer and I can't guarantee that they'd be like this when I get molds made. Also I'd have to fork out £60 for a new set, which seems a waste so soon, not to mention my ortho would likely be more than annoyed at me.
Maybe I'm exaggerating the problems a bit, the retained bite is definitely functional but it just feel like I'm wearing my retainer to make my teeth look worse than they can do, when I've seen the potential.

Could I get some people's opinion, perhaps others have been in similar positions here? Sorry for the long post...

Thanks,
Sim

[Granola]

Sim, I could have practically written at least part of your post!

I was in a similar situation right after debonding. My bite felt great until I started wearing my Essix (although I picked mine up the same day as my debonding) and within 24 hours of wearing the Essix, things looked and felt off, and my lower left and upper left centrals were hitting forcefully.

I called my ortho immediately (the day after debonding) and they made me an adjustment appointment for a few days later. My ortho removed a little enamel (with a drill) to fix the area on the centrals, and we decided that they will switch me to a Hawley in eight weeks' time (which had been the plan a few months from now, but he decided to do it earlier). My orthodontist's reasoning for two different types of retainers was/is this: he says the Essix is helpful in preventing rotation (especially in patients like me where rotation was an issue) and the Hawley is helpful in allowing the bite to settle and can be adjusted. I don't know if this is consistent with other orthodontists' reasoning, but that was the explanation I was given.

My bite feels much better now (and is actually very comfortable with my retainer in or out) after he adjusted things.

As Meryaten said, I would definitely call your orthodontist! The retention phase is part of your treatment also, and they would definitely want to know about any problems that you are encountering.

[smile2006]

I would say it is a settling issue as well. I had my braces removed and waited a week due to a mess up with the lab to get my retainer. My upper Hawley was very very tight after getting it suggesting that there was some shifting/settling in a week. It's been a little over a week and I feel like my teeth are getting back to where they were immediately after my braces were removed. My bite is feeling better now as well. Funny thing is, there are a couple teeth I think look better after the 'unretained" week but bitewise it is definately better now that I have retention Always something.

[Chris]

I also was told that Essix does not allow the bite to settle like the Hawley.