Life with retainers

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#1 Post by **butterfly** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:34 am

Hello forum,

I was debanded 1.5 months ago and have been wearing a positioner for 4 hours a day plus at night since. This means that when going our or just being with ppl I enjoy full pre-braces freedom. But this will come to an end. I will get an Essix above and a bonded retainer below.

How will this change my life? Full time wear of the Essix should be as bad as having an expander. It means you can't snack at all, have to refuse any food you get offered to taste (and explain and show them your retainer!), and when going out to eat you need to visit the toilet before and after the meal, cleaning in public places, looking for a mirror and a well lit spot... Traveling with the expander was a pure nightmare for me. I thought this would be over, How long is this supposed to be like this anyway?

The final stage is the Essix at night and the bonded retainer for life. How does the bonded one impact your daily life? Does food get caught in it? Do you have to clean and inspect it after every meal? (Toilet visits, looking for a mirror... I thought this would come to an end!) Does in disturb speaking?

I just don't get it. Why I cannot just reduce positioner wear to an hour a day or so and sleep with it at night? It doesn't bother me at all, and during the day I could have complete freedom. It seems like this retainer thing is worse than braces.

#2 Post by **Attagirl2** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 1:41 am

Hi Butterfly. Well I can answer some of your questions from my perspective. I have a lower permanent retainer, and yes food does get trapped in it. Ususally, I can swish water around it and get it free, but sometimes little pieces get stuck in the corners. At that point I get out a little tooth pick and work it out. I don't use a mirror at all for this, I just feel with my tongue. I worn a positioner right after my braces came off, 24/7 for the first three days and then nights only for a week. After that, my Hawley retainer was ready for my upper teeth. I wore the postioner for 1 hour a day for the first three months. Also wore the Hawley for 10 hours a day everyday, too. Now I wear the Positioner 1 hour a day just 3 to 4 times a week, but still wear the Hawley for 10 hours everyday. I have very little trouble speaking with my retainer, although when I am tire, I will slur words sometimes.

Since I dont have an Essix, I cannot comment on wearing it, but it sounds resonable to me that you would have to take it out to snack and then clean your teeth...

My guess with stopping the positioner is so your teeth can settle into there permanent spots.

I wish you well.

#3 Post by **butterfly** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:30 am

Thanks for your answer.

So the wire behind the teeth doesn`t seem to be too bothersome! This sounds good. We will have to live with it I guess.

Are you wearing the positioner on top of the permanent retainer? Is this possible even?

I got a positioner too. If the teeth shift in the future you can always correct them with the positioner, right? With an Essix no adjustments are possible I guess. I hate the positioner with a passion (it grosses me out) but it makes me feel confident that the teeth stay put.

This week I will get some bonding to fix chipped teeth. Do you think the positioner will still fit?? It's minor adjustments though (click on the www button to see a pic on the last page).

#4 Post by **Attagirl2** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:48 am

Hi Butterfly. The permanent retainer isn't bad. My orthodontist raised it up slightly more than normal because I make a LOT of tartar and it could play havoc with my gums. I don't know if that is the reason, I am almost constantly playing with it with my tongue... My permanent retainer went on before I had the positioner made, so yes, I wear the postioner over the permanent retainer. As for fixing the chips in your teeth, it probably depends on where they are as to whether or not the positioner would still fit. It might with the permanent retainer, if the retainer wire is low enough to your gums, you will have to wait and find out about that.

I am in the process of getting a new, gold crown on a back lower molar. Because they make the gold ones fatter than ceramic (gold crowns will last longer than crowns made with other materials. Since no one can see my molars, I am getting what will last the longest), my retainer will have to be modified by my orthodontist. He already knows and told me to come in and get it taken care of when I get the new crown.

If you have problems with the positioner fit, talk to your orthodontist to see if he/she will modify it for you. I will say, if you have been in the positioner for over a year (which is what I thought I read earlier), your teeth are probably pretty settled in and the retainers are now going to hold them there.

Good luck to you.

#5 Post by **jennielee81** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:00 pm

I have an essex lower and I really like that little sucker!

It doesn't impact my life at all. If someone offers me a taste of food and I have it in, I say, "I just brushed my teeth, it wouldn't taste very good." or, "gosh that looks good, but I'm allergic to...". I even have said, "That looks disgusting...I would never eat that!" (but only said to friends).

The only time I had trouble with it was when I forgot it was a communion sunday at church and I had to take communion with it in...I was very worried that the wine would migrate under it and I would have purple teeth until the end of the service. Nobody said anything so I assume it was fine.

As for restaurants, I take it out in the car before I go in. Teeth don't move THAT quickly and I just put it back in when I get back into the car. Then I go home and brush my teeth and the retainer and put it back in again.

It's ALL GOOD!!!

#6 Post by **butterfly** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:55 pm

That sounds awful. I wouldn't lie to people like this. Isn't this rude? With the braces on everyone could at least SEE why I cannot eat but the Essix will be a bit more difficult to explain... The car thing is a really good idea!

#7 Post by **jennielee81** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:08 pm

I don't see it as a lie. Since I HAD just brushed my teeth before going out. I suppose a "No thank you" would be sufficient, but I'm always one to attach needless details.

Mostly I encounter this "tasting thing" at Costco or Sams or a grocery store. They don't care!!! Certainly, I don't want to bore them with my orthodontics. Perhaps I could say, "sorry, I've got my retainers in"...but do they care??? I doubt it.

If I am going to a gathering or party of sorts, I would do as I do for a restaurant, take it out in the car...no issues then.

I hope you don't find me offensive! I just don't think anybody cares if I am wearing a retainer or not so I just give them a "story" and go about my business. OR I take it out before I go in if it's obvious there will be food.

Good luck to you!!! You'll do fine!