anybody with only a bonded retainer?

[Anna5]

Hello!

I may get debraced soon. I had an open bite and crossbite which have been corrected. My ortho says he only plans to give me a bonded retainer on my front 6 upper and lower teeth. He thinks that's enough, that my molars are not going to shift anymore. However, I am not sure about this, because I read everywhere here on this forum that having a removable retainer (as well) is very important to prevent the teeth from shifting again.

Is there anyone here who only has a bonded retainer or do you all have a removable retainer (as well)?

What do you think? Should I just trust my ortho or insist on getting a removable retainer as well?

[samoorelaw]

If I were you, I would insist on removable retainers. I've yet to see one successful retention story where no removable retainers were used, even on those patients who had minimal movement. Plus, retention after an open bite is already challenging so I would insist on having all the arsenal you can to prevent relapse. I too had a slight posterior open bite and a slight crossbite and my ortho insists that retention requires two removable retainers and a permanent retainer on my lower teeth. Granted my treatment is different than yours, but I figure it does no harm to have removable retainers so why take the risk?

Anyway that's my two cents. Will be interesting to see if anyone chimes in with a successful retention story sans removable retainers.

[TreadLightly]

Love this thread, pumped to give you my findings!

I feel there is a world of disagreements between orthos & dentist... Why though?
Ortho = Their primary goal is to provide you any service they can to make your teeth straight
Dentist = Their primary goal is to provide you and service they can to make your teeth healthy

So a lot of orthos are very persistent on permanent retainers because they just want to keep your teeth straight and they're not too concerned about dental complications it can cause in later years....

A lot of dentists hate when they see patients with permanent retainers because it makes it a lot harder to clean around which could cause dental related complications (simple google search can tell you more specifics)

My "ortho" is actually primarily a dentist (didn't know until recently) which explains the struggles I have had with him. I kept asking for bonded retainers on top/bottom but he kept saying in his 25 years of experience they're not worth it for these reasons

1) Bonded retainers would be a place where a lot of plaque and calcium build up would be which doesn't help much for teeth/gum health
2) They can easily get chipped (but not fall out) without you noticing, and you will notice your teeth start to move!
3) It interferes with having a natural tongue placement since you're likely to be continuing to hitting it... Which can cause it to break off quicker, or cause your tongue to put pressure on other parts of your mouth and shift those teeth

My ortho/dentist says he has used everything with his clients and he said this statement very firmly. "My clients who use Hawley removable retainers have the best retention rate." He also went on to say how those retainers are least likely to break via teeth grinding and less likely to get lost (aka Essix) because it's not so clear that you forget it's around.

I could actually go on about this more but I feel you have to ask yourself...
In terms of your teeth, what would make you happy?

Because for me I wanted (and still do) perfect teeth that can hold their position naturally without any assistance (aka bonded retainer) that would cause dental complications down the road. So this is what I've done (still going through the process)

1. Braces off
2. Hawley Retainer full time use for 6 months (3 months in)
If there is any teeth movement still then we will look at options such...
3a. Dental Bonding (which could act like a glue to hold 2 teeth together)
3b. Dental Positioner

I agree this route is probably more effort.... But it'll all be worth it in the end
Hopefully I didn't rant too much and there was some useful info here...

WAIT! Some food for thought before you go? I've got friends who only have bonded retainers and I've asked them (yesterday funny enough) have their teeth moved since? Their answer was "the teeth with the retainer haven't moved.... the other ones have"

Cheers! Let us know what your choice is!

[samoorelaw]

Love this thread, pumped to give you my findings!

I feel there is a world of disagreements between orthos & dentist... Why though?
Ortho = Their primary goal is to provide you any service they can to make your teeth straight
Dentist = Their primary goal is to provide you and service they can to make your teeth healthy

So a lot of orthos are very persistent on permanent retainers because they just want to keep your teeth straight and they're not too concerned about dental complications it can cause in later years....

A lot of dentists hate when they see patients with permanent retainers because it makes it a lot harder to clean around which could cause dental related complications (simple google search can tell you more specifics)

My "ortho" is actually primarily a dentist (didn't know until recently) which explains the struggles I have had with him. I kept asking for bonded retainers on top/bottom but he kept saying in his 25 years of experience they're not worth it for these reasons

1) Bonded retainers would be a place where a lot of plaque and calcium build up would be which doesn't help much for teeth/gum health
2) They can easily get chipped (but not fall out) without you noticing, and you will notice your teeth start to move!
3) It interferes with having a natural tongue placement since you're likely to be continuing to hitting it... Which can cause it to break off quicker, or cause your tongue to put pressure on other parts of your mouth and shift those teeth

My ortho/dentist says he has used everything with his clients and he said this statement very firmly. "My clients who use Hawley removable retainers have the best retention rate." He also went on to say how those retainers are least likely to break via teeth grinding and less likely to get lost (aka Essix) because it's not so clear that you forget it's around.

I could actually go on about this more but I feel you have to ask yourself...
In terms of your teeth, what would make you happy?

Because for me I wanted (and still do) perfect teeth that can hold their position naturally without any assistance (aka bonded retainer) that would cause dental complications down the road. So this is what I've done (still going through the process)

1. Braces off
2. Hawley Retainer full time use for 6 months (3 months in)
If there is any teeth movement still then we will look at options such...
3a. Dental Bonding (which could act like a glue to hold 2 teeth together)
3b. Dental Positioner

I agree this route is probably more effort.... But it'll all be worth it in the end
Hopefully I didn't rant too much and there was some useful info here...

WAIT! Some food for thought before you go? I've got friends who only have bonded retainers and I've asked them (yesterday funny enough) have their teeth moved since? Their answer was "the teeth with the retainer haven't moved.... the other ones have"

Cheers! Let us know what your choice is!

Thank you for your post: interesting information. I'm definitely sticking with Hawleys but now I'm trying to decide if I want to invest an additional $350 (+ an additional $175 to have the upper Essix retainer remade when I get 8 crowns) for the Essix, too. I read repeatedly that Essix doesn't affect your speech as much as the Hawleys and I can't talk in court while lisping: simply cannot do it. Also, my ortho could make the Essix retainers for me the same day the braces come off, whereas I would have to wait 4 days for the Hawleys and I'm terrified my teeth will shift in that time.

While I'm not liking what I'm reading about the permanent retainers (the plaque buildup and the fragility of the wire), my ortho insists I need it and the one time we took a powerchain off my lower teeth for just a few days, I already started developing a gap in my lower teeth, and it took quite a while to close the gaps, too!. Not going to take the risk of these teeth moving.

Decisions, decisions! I'm leaning toward buying the Essix because I've already spent THIS much on fixing my teeth, what's an additional $525?

[TreadLightly]

Thank you for your post: interesting information. I'm definitely sticking with Hawleys but now I'm trying to decide if I want to invest an additional $350 (+ an additional $175 to have the upper Essix retainer remade when I get 8 crowns) for the Essix, too. I read repeatedly that Essix doesn't affect your speech as much as the Hawleys and I can't talk in court while lisping: simply cannot do it. Also, my ortho could make the Essix retainers for me the same day the braces come off, whereas I would have to wait 4 days for the Hawleys and I'm terrified my teeth will shift in that time.

While I'm not liking what I'm reading about the permanent retainers (the plaque buildup and the fragility of the wire), my ortho insists I need it and the one time we took a powerchain off my lower teeth for just a few days, I already started developing a gap in my lower teeth, and it took quite a while to close the gaps, too!. Not going to take the risk of these teeth moving.

Decisions, decisions! I'm leaning toward buying the Essix because I've already spent THIS much on fixing my teeth, what's an additional $525?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Just ask yourself if you get the essix retainer are you willing to deal with the higher maintenance that style retainer might bring because of the material. If I were you I'd look up how to get "Vivera" if that's how you spell it. It's basically the Invisalign version of that except it's much much more durable.

[Snowglobe32]

Anna,

INSIST on more than just a permanent retainer. Since you had a cross-bite, those teeth can shift because you will not have anything keeping them in place. Permanent retainers only keep the teeth that the retainer is attached to, in place. Do not take the chance of going back into cross-bite. I have seen photos of those with permanent retainers only who have had their teeth cave in!

If your ortho doesn't agree, find someone else who will make you a retainer.

Out of all the advice I have given you, this is the most important!!!

Good luck my friend!

Send me pics when you are brace free!

P.S. You may even want to ask about a positioner.

[Snowglobe32]

3b. Dental Positioner

How is your positioner working? I have one also and it is amazing!!!