Hi All, Long time no see.
I got my braces off in late March and I'm not really all that happy with the results. My lower laterals are more-or-less straight (they were rotated 45 degrees inward) but I'm left with triangle-shaped spaces at the bases because the teeth are wider at the top than the bottom. They aren't very visible but they bother me a lot.
My questions. I have a bonded bottom retainer that I hate. It is bonded to all 6 front lower teeth (4 incisors and 2 canines). It sticks out and is irregular, not smooth and I can't properly floss. I can use threaders or superfloss, but I like to floss all the way up and down between my teeth.
Is there such a thing as a bottom retainer that you just wear at night?
Also, my top retainer (that I wear at night) is made of a pliable rubbery substance. I don't mind wearing it but it is turning green. I have tried everything, denture cleaner, peroxide, vinegar, hand soap, you name it, and nothing removes the green. I guess it is mold or mildew. Whatever it is, it's gross. I definitely want to get it replaced with a harder night guard like I used to have for grinding.
Anyone know if there are bottom retainers for night wear and how to clean a rubber top retainer?
Thanks!
Elle
Retainer Questions
Moderator: bbsadmin
Retainer Questions
Spacers, Nov. 1; Braced Nov. 8, 2006; Braces off March 26, 2008, just short of 17 months. Glad it's over but the jury is still out on whether the game was worth the candle.
Congrats on completing the journey.
While it's a bit late to raise this, did your ortho offer you IPR to minimise the black triangle effect or was this not feasible in your case?
As far as the bonded retainer is concerned, there shouldn't be any sharp surfaces. This is something you should raise with your ortho. Yeah, I'd like to floss all the way up and down too, but that is a limitation of bonded retainers (I have them on both arches). I use piksters to "floss" along the gum margins of the bonded teeth, and regular floss to do the bit above the wire. Works fine.
I guess your ortho decided to use a bonded retainer on your lower teeth so as to minimise the risk of relapse. If you're really not happy with it, best to discuss alternatives with him.
Don't know what the green stuff is - maybe invaders from another planet?
While it's a bit late to raise this, did your ortho offer you IPR to minimise the black triangle effect or was this not feasible in your case?
As far as the bonded retainer is concerned, there shouldn't be any sharp surfaces. This is something you should raise with your ortho. Yeah, I'd like to floss all the way up and down too, but that is a limitation of bonded retainers (I have them on both arches). I use piksters to "floss" along the gum margins of the bonded teeth, and regular floss to do the bit above the wire. Works fine.
I guess your ortho decided to use a bonded retainer on your lower teeth so as to minimise the risk of relapse. If you're really not happy with it, best to discuss alternatives with him.
Don't know what the green stuff is - maybe invaders from another planet?