have to wear retainer 24/7 for 3 months??

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#1 Post by **payoki** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:07 am

I went to see my ortho for the first time since the braces came off and he was scolding me about how my retainer still feels tight and the reason is that I've have not been diligent in wearing the retainer. Well, he's right. But after each meal or if I want a snack or if I need to be on the phone for awhile(at work) I tend to take out the retainer and forget to put it back on...
And I always wear my retainer at night.
I think the retainers are more bothersome than the actual braces.
He also told me that if he does not see any improvement at the next visit which is in about 2 months, I might have to wear the braces all over again...(I hope he's not serious!!)

#2 Post by **TeresaTX** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:33 am

Why risk it? Put that puppy in and wear it! 3 months isn't that long in the scheme of things...by only partly following orders you're likely only extending that phase anyway, right?

I'm not that anxious to start the retention phase either (I'm getting my bonded lower retainer on Thursday) other than that it's a step in the direction of being done forever but I hope that no matter how much it stinks I'm able to power through just to get it done and move on to nights only. And consider...several, like me will have much longer of 24-7 wear...I've been told 6 months and have heard others mention a year.

SO...lecture over, what is it really like? do you not want to put it back on because its uncomfortable? painful? just plain annoying? enquiring minds want to obsess

#3 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:41 am

HI Payoki.

I just got my retainers today. The acrylic plate is thick and I can't talk worth a damn. It's frustrating. As much as I want to take the thing out, I keep telling myself that in a week or so, I'll talk OK, or close to it....lol. Hang in there. I am supposed to wear these 24/7 until my next appointment and then go from there.

#4 Post by **Granola** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 12:46 pm

Please, wear it! You are only hurting yourself if you don't, and I mean that in the kindest and most constructive way. As someone who has had to go through braces treatment twice, I am a cheerleader for wearing that retainer!

My 24/7 retainer wear is for six months (at least) so three months sounds bearable, but I'm guessing it won't be for only three months if you are not consistently wearing it.

This is just me, but I'll taking wearing retainers over braces any day!

I hope you are able to find a way to make it work so that you are comfortable and can wear them as instructed.

#5 Post by **smile2006** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:31 pm

We'll I'm confused about the retainer thing. I had some shifting upward of a couple top teeth on the left side after having my braces removed. I ended up having top braces and three bottom left-side brackets (with a tiny wire) put on again for a little over a month [with a box elastic to pull the teeth down]. Things have quickly lined up nicely again. My ortho is opting for no retention when I get my braces off. In a week he is going to remove the wires and leave the brackets for a couple weeks to see if shifting occurs. If no shifting occurs he will remove the brackets. His contention is that properly aligned teeth or an ideal bite will retain itself (for example a good snug overlap of the top and bottom front teeth will hold the lowers in place) and if things will shift they will shift quickly upon removal. So, my life in retainers was 3 months. Seems weird to me but my ortho is diligent and wants things right. I trust he is making a good decision for me. After jaw surgery and this the third time with braces, I don't think he'd be messing with me!

#6 Post by **mogwai** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:20 am

ive just found out that i only have to wear my retainers 24/7 for 3 months as opposed to a year, so im actually happy to wear it for this time.

But I will be keeping a close eye on my teeth to see if I actually should be wearing it for longer.

This is the final part of your treatment, and the one that you have control over, if you don't do it properly (and it is only 3 months!) you will only have yourself to blame if you find yourself back in braces...thats the harsh truth! (and its what I tell myself when Im feeling lazy to put them back in!)

#7 Post by **nicholeuf** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:22 pm

I'm so confused. I had my braces taken off about a month ago. He instructed 24/7 retainer wear for the first 4 DAYS and nightly wear for the next couple years. Why are some people told to wear them 24/7 for 6 months to a year when mine said 4 days? I have essix retainers and a bonded permanent retainer on the bottom.

#8 Post by **Chris** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 8:04 pm

They probably take into consideration your age, the amount of correction that was needed, length of time in braces and even their experience with the outcomes of their other patients.

#9 Post by **ghostmyimag3** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:27 pm

Personally i dont care what the specified time is, i've made up my mind i'll keep wearing my retainer once i reach that point in a few weeks like i'm supposed to, but still wear it at night for the rest of my life in order to avoid having to ever get braces again due to with age your teeth shift. My sister in law's teeth have begun to shift and she's in her late 30's now and had braces in her 20's. I just would rather prevent ahead of time.

#10 Post by **NotBob1** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 7:52 pm

I was told to wear the retainers for 12 hours per day. I said that I would prefer to wear them 24 hours for awhile. She only said that this would heighten my risk of losing them. I won't, and if I do, the first thing I will do is call for an appointment for new ones. Period.

I have been wearing them for a week now and when I take the upper one out for just one hour, it is tight going in. Scary. The bottom one is currently screwed up and I only wear it as much as I can until I can get in to see them. That's another story.....

I do not think it hurts to wear them more, but I would ask. It's just not worth it to take a chance....When I was younger and got my braces off, I had to wear top and bottom retainers 24/7 for two years. There was no prescription for retainer wear after two years, hence why I am 38 and here again. Back then my retainer(s) were much thicker, bulkier and the upper one had a row of spikes to retrain my tongue from a "thrust" issue. Now the retainers are thin and no spikes. THe acrylic cuts way in so there is little on the roof of my mouth.

#11 Post by **astereje** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:50 pm

i got my braces off a year ago, and wore my retainers 24/7 for 6 months. now i just wear them at night. it's been good, no tightness, no shifting, but then again i wear them every single night. i also only had braces for 1 1/2 years, and i am in my mid 20s. i do agree that retainers are more of a nuisance because you have to take them out to eat and put them in back then take them out to brush and put them back to sleep. in that sense, braces were easier to manage because they were on, you just avoid certain foods, but didn't have to fuss with them.

i am glad my orthodontist told me to wear my retainers 24/7 for 6 months because after 6 months i got so sick of taking it out putting it in all the time. i am all about wearing my retainers at night. even if i get all comfy when i get to bed and i realize i don't have my retainers in my mouth, i'll of course be irritated but i will get up and put them in.

but i know it's worth it.

#12 Post by **totalwise** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 4:47 am

That's really silly, you're risking 2 years of hard work, just cos you don't like the inconvenience of wearing retainers for only 3 months.

Up to you really, personally I wouldn't do it. I'd stick to wearing them diligently.

#13 Post by **abc123** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:36 pm

my ortho told me the same thing, retainers 24/7 for 3 months then i can switch to just wearing them at night for a few years (though he didnt specify how many)

the way I look at it is, my ortho went to school and learned all about teeth and I didn't so it's probably a good idea just to listen to the expert. 3 months isn't that long a period and your only making it longer by not wearing them. Right now I only have a temporary Essix on top, but it wasn't that hard to get used to talking in. If you have a Hawley on top perhaps asking for an Essix will fix your speaking problems.

I find it easiest to remember to put my retainer back in if I leave it right next to my plate when I eat. I even have a bright pink case which makes it harder to ignore.

#14 Post by **ghostmyimag3** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:29 am

To update what i said in here i am in upper retainers right now. My lower braces are still on, but i will be wearing this upper retainer for a year 24/7 unless i am eating or brushing. Then afterwards at night.

I can tell you it isn't easy, i have been gagging a little and its someone difficult to talk because of the gagging sensation but its getting better it seems the more i wear it.