retainers and fillings AND implants?

Message

#1 Post by **Betty Bat** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 8:20 pm

Hi,
I just got 3 fillings replaced today. It didn't occur to me at the time, but it seems like my Essix retainer isn't fitting quite the same as it did before. It isn't a big difference, but it seems a little different.

Anyone else have experience with this?

#2 Post by **chrisk** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:36 pm

Hi Betty,

I'm having 3 fillings replaced in my back molars in 2 weeks time. (They got pretty battered when my braces were taken off). My ortho told me that I would need to come straight up afterwards and have a new mould made for new retainers as my retainers would no longer fit. He didn't want me to go more than one night without my retainers. Consequently, Friday week will be spent at my dentist from 9am - 10am, then up to the ortho for 1pm for a mould and then I pick up my retainer at 4.30pm.

My suggestion is to ring your ortho and check if you need a new retainer made.

#3 Post by **Betty Bat** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:13 pm

Thanks, Chris! I've been wearing my retainer, faithfully, every night. I wish I had thought about this sooner - it never occurred to me to call the ortho and check!

Betty
(slaps her head and says "Doh!")

#4 Post by **Betty Bat** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:35 am

I'm bumping this up because I thought of something else.

I'm scheduled to get dental implants (2, lower jaw). I still have my lower braces - the uppers came off in April. Now I'm trying to figure out how to coordinate things. The implant guy said that he can put the implants in while the brackets are on, but the wire has to be out.

Of course, I'd like to get the brackets off, but now I'm worried about scheduling the retainer that I'm supposed to get. If I get the retainer before the implants, then will I need to get a different retainer after the implants? Since the implant procedure takes multiple months, I REALLY don't want to wait that long!

And, my ortho had recommended that I get the braces off and let things settle down for a month or so before the implants, just to see how things settle into place after the braces are off.

Anyone have experience with significant dental work post-braces and retainers?

#5 Post by **Betty Bat** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:40 pm

Thanks, Meryaten. I go to the ortho on Monday - I haven't gone since April. This is the longest without an ortho visit for me! I'll ask about the coordination. This fits one of my three basic rules for life: everything is harder than it should be!

#6 Post by **momof2grlz** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:02 pm

I had a lower implant placed in April prior to my debanding in early May. My ortho did not have to remove my wire or any brackets for the surgeon to place the implant. The wire made no difference to the surgeon. It just made keeping the implant area clean a little more difficult during the healing process.

I actually had to postpone my retainer impressions for a week until after the implant was placed. The implant hasn't been restored with a crown yet, but I'll probably have to get a new lower essix retainer after the crown is finished.

I guess each surgeon and ortho does things differently. It's never easy!

Chris