Why do some get permanent retainers and some get removable?

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#1 Post by **betharoo** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:51 am

I get my braces off tomorrow

and, I was woundering how come some people get permanent retainers and some get removable ones?

I have no idea what I'm getting yet, I assume I'll find out tomorrow. I'm hoping I get hawley removable ones tho because I'd assume it would be much easier to floss rather than a having a permanent one glued down.

#2 Post by **flipib05** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 9:05 am

Sometimes its ortho's preference or what is best for your teeth. I have hawley upper and lower and my ortho wanted me to have bonded retainers but I didn't like the idea of having anything bonded to my teeth for a long time.

#3 Post by **oceanblue** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 10:58 am

Just depends on what your ortho thinks is best for your case. I know I have a bonded lower retainer because as an adult my bottom teeth have a high possibility of relapse (plus they totally relapsed when I had braces before as a teenager). I requested the top retainer be a clear plastic one because of all the speaking I do associated with my job. Hopefully my top braces come off this Wednesday!

#4 Post by **urfutureortho** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 12:26 pm

Well in my case, they gave me a permanent one on bottom, and an essix on top. The essix if you don't know, is pretty much like invisalign, but a retainer instead. The reason for this was because of my treatment.
You see, according to your treatment, your orthodontist will choose which is best for you. Hawley retainer, essix retainer, or a permanent one. Now I have a hawley retainer. It all depends on how everything was, and how your teeth and bite were possitioned before you got your braces. The best answer you can get is from your orthodontist, so when you get your braces off, just ask him or her, and they should tell you. I hope this has helped.

#5 Post by **vwmystyc** » Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:19 am

I'm getting my braces off tomorrow and I will get a bonded lower and an essix upper. I asked for the bonded lower because my front bottom teeth keep getting a little gap in the middle. It happened three times, I'd get the power chain off and they would steel tie my lowers and next appt I'd have a little space so they would powerchain again. After the third powerchain I told them to not keep this circle going so they replaced it with a new one and when I go in tomorrow they are going to put in the bonded retainer and then take the bottom brackets off. My boyfriend had braces as a kid and now he has a lower tooth that has tilted back so he is wishing he had gotten a bonded retainer instead of relying on wearing his hawley correctly. I'm getting out of my braces and he might be going into some

#6 Post by **jennielee81** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:25 am

urfutureortho wrote:...You see, according to your treatment, your orthodontist will choose which is best for you. Hawley retainer, essix retainer, or a permanent one. Now I have a hawley retainer. It all depends on how everything was, and how your teeth and bite were possitioned before you got your braces. The best answer you can get is from your orthodontist, so when you get your braces off, just ask him or her, and they should tell you. I hope this has helped.

I think it mostly has to do with your orthodontist's personal preference. My ortho ALWAYS does an upper Hawley and lower lingual bonded for long-term retention. He does this on everyone. There have been a few patients who have gotten upper bonded retainers (with the hawley) but from what I gathered when I asked the assistant, that is only if there is a space that won't stay closed. My kid's ortho always does upper and lower Hawleys.

Some ortho's are less rigid with their retainer selections and let the patient have some input and some even let the patient choose which type for themselves.

I had an essex for about 8 weeks to tweek a few things before getting the LLB and I liked it (essex) a lot. My ortho said he doesn't like essex retainers for long term wear... His personal preference (I am not substituting my ortho's opinion for your ortho's opinion).

#7 Post by **jennielee81** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:47 pm

RIGHT YOU ARE MERYATEN!!

I do really dislike cleaning around that lower bonded retainer!! Had a hunk of something stuck in there the other day and it would not come out with brushing. I had to wait until I got home and got my to brushpicks to get it out. Drove me nuts all day.

With that said, I appreciate it.

#8 Post by **Granola** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:14 pm

I do really dislike cleaning around that lower bonded retainer!! Had a hunk of something stuck in there the other day and it would not come out with brushing. I had to wait until I got home and got my to brushpicks to get it out. Drove me nuts all day.

With that said, I appreciate it.

Agree with the above!

My orthos recommended a lower bonded, and I was really uncertain about it. My dentist doesn't like them (what dentist would, something that potentially gets in the way of maintaining the best possible hygiene) and said to make sure I agreed with their reasoning. Because in my case I have a high risk of relapse, it was felt that I would get the best possible retention with the lingual bar, something I can't leave out and has a better likelihood of maintaining what I worked so hard to achieve with braces. That said, it is no fun to have it, but I don't notice it that much anymore either. I am finding that I can floss regular floss right through because of the black triangles that I have, so it hasn't been bad (except for those times, as jennielee81 mentioned, that food gets stuck in there).

My ortho would have let me choose not to have a bonded lower retainer, but really recommended it. What swayed me into having it was that she said if I really hated it they would replace it with a removable one. That freed me to choose the best retention method for me even if it is a pain.

Sorry to go on and on but I'm not feeling very succinct today!

#9 Post by **Lala7603** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:02 pm

my ortho originally game me lower and upper essix retainers. but after a few months of that....i couldnt take it anymore. one of my lower teeth would move soo much when the retainer was off that when i put it on.....it was REALLY painful. it was then evident that my teeth would need defenite 24/7 retainer wear to keep my teeth in place....so i got a bonded retainer.....that was 2 years ago....they are nice....but a pain if they break....mine has broken, so far, twice.

SMiles
Lala

#10 Post by **jennielee81** » Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:09 pm

NIce to hear from you again, Lala!!