RETENSION PHASE (POST BRACES) Am I overthinking?

[TreadLightly]

I had braces for 5 years. I got my braces removed about 8 months ago (December 22nd, 2013) and I've noticed some things along the way...

I was originally forced to wait one week for my retainers (hawley) to come in (no permanent retainer installed) which I wasn't a fan of but I went with it... I took pictures along my post braces journey and I saw something quick.. My front teeth were moving. So I went back to my ortho and he told me it was how I was swallowing (later found it the term is tongue thrust?) so he gave a simply solution.. Swallow correctly and wear your top retainer 24/7 for six months and continue your bottom retainers with only night use. Simple enough, right?

So three months into wearing my retainer full time it broke and I had to purchase a new one immediately. What I found shocking was even though there had been improvements in the three months of wearing it full time, my teeth still couldn't go much longer than eating a meal plus a little bit before starting to shift. I had imaged if I was half way through wearing my retainer full time my teeth should be able to retain their position longer? I'm doubtful another three months will make up for the REST of the day. Though who knows really.. (not me, hence why I'm here)

Now it's not that I'm content with my top teeth, but I will continue to abide for the following 3 months because for all I know it will be better then. Then a new curve ball gets thrown at me! (not literally, I'd probably be missing teeth and be in the wrong forum entirely)

I looked at my bottom teeth in a birds eye view and see they are rotating! They aren't even visibly moving from a frontal plane but I see them rotating.. So in the last week I have been wearing my bottom retainer full time to no prevail.. oh woah is me, a real first world problem

So what would I like from you reading it? (Yes, YOU!) I'm not sure if i'm over thinking the severity of the situation. Given that I had braces for 5 years I don't just want good teeth, I want perfect teeth. Space between teeth and rotation is completely unnecessary at this point in my life (21 years young)

I'm very tempted to shop around other orthodontists as I feel the one I have been going to is just in it to take my money. The plan he seemed to have created with my parents includes zero coverage with the retention phase so every appointment/retainer tightening adjustment is costing me $70 (all of a sudden my teeth are costing me more per month than my cell phone?)

So what do you think of my teeth? Am I justified for being annoyed/unsatisfied for having to deal with this 8 months post braces? Is it worth it to seek another orthodontist? Any comment would be really appreciated (though preferably in English.. Putting medical advice through Google translate can get sloppy)

[TreadLightly]

Attached is a picture of my teeth now.

[Snowglobe32]

My advice to you would be to ask an ortho, whether it is your current or a new one, about getting a positioner. These things do amazing work. It will hold your teeth in place forever!

That photo, the one that says, "teeth immediately after braces"...your June photo looks so much better than that one, is that correct?

A positioner might help ease your mind.

Good luck!

[TreadLightly]

Thank you for your recommendation. Do you have experience using it? After looking at it online it requires a lot of compliance but seems to be very effective!

Yea... the photos are correct. When I originally got my braces removed I wasn't entirely happy but I just didn't know what to think. I felt obligated if anything to say I'm happy.

I have no idea how my teeth can look better after getting my braces off, having my teeth move and then moving my teeth back AGAIN.

Either way the better photo is very similar to how my teeth are now on a day to day basis so at least that works in my favor.

[Snowglobe32]

Yes, I have a positioner. The best $500 I ever spent!