The deed is done...I'm braceless!!

[mtbrncofn]

Ooooo, they looks absolutely wonderful, Alexa!

[Cinnamon]

Your teeth look great!! Congratulations!

[mrsphase74]

Alexa,

Your teeth are so straight! They look awesome, congratulations on your d-day!

[alexa]

Hi there guys!

We'll start off with a big THANK YOU to Granola, MegoLego, Clo, Lisa65, Smile2006, Meryaten, Chris, mtbrncofn, Cinnamon and mrsphase74 for all of your awesome comments and compliments. I appreciate your support!

I believe Smile2006 asked about my retainer wear instructions. I was told to wear them 24/7 (aside from eating and brushing) for the first year, then nightly there after.

Unfortunately, there is already a problem...

I believe I saw another post on here recently about someone who was having their retainer rub their gum area in an uncomfortable way. This, unfortunately is my problem.

The upper hawley fits great, and my only problem has been not being able to speak correctly...but the lower, not so much.

On the lower arch, on my left, the back of the Hawley has rubbed my gum area raw. It hurts pretty bad when I put the retainer in, then after I have it in, I sort of forget about it, though if I stop and think about it, it still hurts a bit. Taking the thing out is the most painful, as it digs in further when I remove the Hawley.

I've been wearing the retainers for as long as I can stand them in the daytime, but at work, I can't really have my mouth hurting like that, so I have left them out for a couple of hours at a time. I've slept with them in for sure, as the pain doesn't bug me enough to keep me awake...it's just taking them out in the morning that's unpleasant.

I don't know if maybe this is like braces, and this discomfort and the mild ulcer formed will just go away after my gums "toughen" up, or if this is something that needs to be addressed.

I really don't want to have to go back to the ortho, as I think they did as big of a happy dance as I did when I walked down those steps on Thursday debanded...but obviously, I can't go on not wearing my retainers as prescribed.

Humbug.

[alexa]

I probably will call..but they're closed on the weekends...and I have work anyway, so I'll probably have to wait until at the very least Monday...and that's only if they can squeeze me in before I have to be into the office in the afternoon.

I also wonder if they can do it in house...they don't make any appliances in house...so I'm wondering if they have the proper tools to alter them there...

It's always something, I tell ya.

[Chris]

Alexa, yes they can do lots of adjustments to the hawley in-house. Mine has been trimmed, etc. lots of times because after debanding I had new temp crowns, implants, etc. done and they needed adjustments to fit.

My hawleys were SUPER comfortable when I first put them on initially. I can't imagine having trouble such as yours. You need this addressed. But be aware that when they do adjustments to it sometimes they may do too much and it may feel too loose. This is sort of like when they grind down some teeth after crownwork in order to fix your bite, alittle here, alittle there, and it may seem endless getting the right bite. Same with adjustments to the retainer I'm afraid.

I wonder if the problem may be with the lab that made them on your end. If so, you need to get another mold made.

By the way, I read your "blog". At times I felt just like you towards the end of treatment...was like reading my own experience.

[alexa]

Thanks Meryaten and Chris, for your thoughts on the matter. I can't figure out what is making it rub so hard. All I can see is that it's slightly longer on the left, and maybe just a touch thicker. Hmm.

Chris--Thanks for taking the time. I know I moaned and groaned a lot the last year...but between Western Dental just being a bunch of jerks and the fact that I was just....tired of braces....I just wasn't always in an "up" mood. It's like, I guess we all just get to that point where we're like, "Okay...are we done yet?" I know a lot of folks on the other side of the process know exactly what I mean.

Earlier today I tried to snap my bottom retainer back in..just to see if it was really as bad as I remembered it from this morning. It was.

So I did call the ortho. I didn't even know they were open, as it was my understanding that they're usually closed on Saturdays. I couldn't go today, anyway, as I was at work, but I wanted to ask what time would be good to come back, so I had figured I'd just leave a message for them to call me back on Monday.

I call, surprisingly someone picks up and the conversation went like this:

Me: Hi. I just got debanded on Thursday and I have my retainers, but the lower one is chafing up my gums on the left side. I assume I need to come in and have them adjust or fix it.
Receptionist: Yeah. You do.
Me: Right. So I was wondering when I should do that.
Receptionist: You can come in for an emergency appointment.
Me: Well, I can't come in toda--
Receptionist: You can't come in today. We're very busy.
Me: I didn't say I wanted to come in today. I'm at work, I couldn't if I wanted to. What I wanted to know is when I should come in? When would be a good time?
Receptionist: Anytime. Monday.
Me: Right, so when would be a good time Monday to show up? I have work that afternoon, so I need to find the time when you'll be the least busy, as I can't wait long.
Receptionist: Anytime.
Me: Oka--
Receptionist: Except 12.
Me: Okay then. Yeah. Thanks.

God, I love those people over there. Why give me attitude? It's her job to answer the phone and tell me when to come in...

Oh well. I guess I'm going to trudge in there "anytime, except 12" on Monday and see if there's something they can do for me.

[alexa]

Here's another question:

Even though it hurts, would you wear the lower retainer (at least at night) until you went in on Monday, since it's so soon after debanding...or would you suspend usage to prevent the slight sore from getting worse?

[alexa]

Yeah. I'm going to try and keep doing it. I'm also using that PerioMed mouthwash stuff too. Since I went to a concert last night and forgot to use it when I brushed, I used it this morning instead of last night...so maybe I'll just keep using it in the morning after I take the retainer out. The wash is supposed to help heal gums and relieve sensitivity, so maybe it'll help.

This would be much easier if they had managed to make my nightguard on time. Then I could've just switched to wearing the nightguard to keep my lowers in place.

Oh well.

Still am loving this straight teeth no braces thing though. I'm not letting some little mouth sore deprive me of the joy that debanding brings! Everyone is complementing my teeth all of the time and people say I look much happier. I guess I'm smiling more!

Someone even said I looked like an advert for the ADA.

I'm excited for when the sensitivity wears down a little more so I can try the CREST white strips. I do have that permanant decalcification due to the bad positioning and ill care of my teeth before I had braces. I think the white strips will help reduce their appearance a bit..you know...whitening up the areas around them. I will say though...from a distance my teeth don't look stained at all.

Man. Being debanded is so cool!

[alexa]

Haha. See, the debanding parade is much like the Macy's Thanksgiving or Christmas Day parade in New York...It goes on rain or shine...it's just that big of a deal!

[Clo]

Hi,

I would try to wear the retainer as much as I can, if it is tolerable. Because then
it will be more clear to them and you next monday where the painful spot is exactly.
Clearer symptoms, easier diagnosis and cure I think. Maybe you can outweigh the
pain by joy of being debanded.

[alexa]

Thanks for your opinion Clo. I've been wearing them at night...and since I'll be going in the morning, I will wear them into the office, so that the spot will still be obvious from the night time wear.

Karen -- Thanks for your graphics and congratulations! Also, I don't mind you reposting the pictures....I can't stop looking at them myself. It may make me seem vain...but I'm still finding it pretty darn amazing.

Thanks again for your support!

[alexa]

Went into the ortho this morning. The office worker on Saturday went on and on about how Mondays are their "slow day"...then why was I waiting out in an overcrowded waiting room for an hour?

Anyway. Who cares. We all know WD is annoying. Moving on!

My ortho was out today and they had a sub doing the work. He came over, asked what the problem was. I explained. He took my upper Hawley out, and checked it too, while we were at it, but the upper was fine. Then he had me snap in my lower, wincing the entire time. He took it out and asked where it was hitting. I told him that he might be able to see the spot, as it's pretty sore and inflamed. He then poked the spot roughly and I yelled out. He said, "Ah. It hurts there, does it?"

No, I just scream because I enjoy the sound of my own voice.

He nipped over to the next station because the power to my chair wasn't working right. I could hear him sanding away in the next cubicle, and then after a couple of minutes he comes back. He has me pop the lower back in, and the pain is gone.

Yay!

He then sent me on my way. Problem solved. It was pretty easy afterall.

[alexa]

Yep. I'm wearing my lower, pain free, as we speak.

[jennielee81]

Beautiful !!!

I was away on vacation when you first posted, sorry for being so late in my congratulations!

Your before and after is truly inspiring!

Enjoy your beautiful smile and never stop admiring it!!