Do you have just a bonded retainer without a removable?

[BraceFace2o1o]

I am curious to see if anyone was given only a bonded retainer and not a removable as well? If so why did your ortho choose this type of retention for you and how did your back teeth (that aren't connected to the bonded retainer) hold up?

[sarasea]

I have only been out of braces for two months but I have just a bonded retainer on the bottom, spanning six teeth. I asked about a removable retainer as well because I was concerned about keeping the arch nice, but my ortho said that my back teeth will need to move and settle to fit into my top teeth better. I'm not sure I really understand it but so far so good. Like I said, though, it's only been two months for me.

[BraceFace2o1o]

I have only been out of braces for two months but I have just a bonded retainer on the bottom, spanning six teeth. I asked about a removable retainer as well because I was concerned about keeping the arch nice, but my ortho said that my back teeth will need to move and settle to fit into my top teeth better. I'm not sure I really understand it but so far so good. Like I said, though, it's only been two months for me.

I am pleased you replied to my thread sarasea, because what your ortho explained to you about your back teeth needing to settle is exactly what my ortho said to me, and I too didn't really understand it.
I have spent 31 months in braces (7 months longer than max est treatment time) and I really did not like the thought of my premolars and molars not having a retainer. I have worn many elastics during my treatment to help upright my premolars and molars (also to close gaps between these teeth) so I am worried this movement will relapse without any retainer to hold them in place. My bite is now the best we will get it, not great but usable, so I don't want anything changing it and making it worse. Maybe I'll just have to take my orthos advice and 'risk' it.

Thanks for replying with your experience and I am glad after two months brace free everything is still ok for you.

[sarasea]

I totally understand your concern. I only had my braces for about 17 months, but I was a surgery case. So I'm really concerned about movement because I don't think I could go through jaw surgery again. After we devote all of this time, effort, and money to braces we want to retain our results permanently!

[chichi]

I am curious to see if anyone was given only a bonded retainer and not a removable as well? If so why did your ortho choose this type of retention for you and how did your back teeth (that aren't connected to the bonded retainer) hold up?

I just got braces, so I don't know how it'll hold up, but my ortho explained at my consultation how he likes to do retainers. He does permanent top (front 4 or 6, depending the case) and permanent bottom (front 6) with an Essix for the top. He leaves the rest of the bottom free to settle, as your ortho told you.

[lostinspace]

I had a permanent retainer put on my bottom and top teeth. My bottom teeth have stayed perfectly straight over the past 4 years but my top retainer became loose and my front four teeth have tipped out again like they were before braces. I think in my case this is because my ortho didn't extract any teeth when he should have. Those front four teeth felt unstable on the very day I got my braces removed.

[plugnickel69]

I think that is why they many orthos give you a removable along with the fixed -- in case the fixed becomes loose. From some of the posts I've read sometimes the fixed becomes loose without the patient realizing it.

[Dana6]

I haven't gotten my braces yet. Hopefully next month but my son got permanent retainers on his top and bottom 6 teeth. His top teeth are now moving forward and he has a gap between them and his molars. It upsets me that we spent so much money on this and they are already moving. I'm going to take him back and request a full top retainer