Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi all, as my de-banding date nears, I asked the ortho assistant as to what kind of a retainer I will get. She said Essex, because the (plain) Hawley requires monthly follow-up visits to the ortho for adjustments. Is that true? Hawley-wearing people, please comment!

I tried searching the forum, but did not see people mentioning having to go to the ortho every month to tighten the Hawley. I would much prefer the Hawley, for various reasons, but I am moving about 400 miles away from where I am now in three weeks, so "monthly checkup" visits to my ortho are not quite possible...

Thanks, Meryaten! In my infinite blondness, I thought that once you get the retainers from the ortho, you are done, and never have to go back again unless you lose one... Ooops! Good to know that it's not monthly visits, but I guess then I might have to find a new ortho in the state I'm moving to for the occasional follow-ups that come with this whole retainer business.

I'm not really sure myself when I will stop seeing my ortho altogether, if ever. My first retainer check was set 6 mo out from my debanding date (hasn't happened yet), and I know I'll have a few more beyond that, but I'm not sure how far apart. I have an essix, but I have been curious about the possibility of ever switching to a hawley, I like that those seem to last much longer. The lifetime of an essix seems to be a bit of a mystery, depending on a variety of factors.

I will have to pay for my retainer treatment separately from my braces plan..but the plan is for me to have checks and at one year, I will have a full on consultation about retainer options going forward (the plan for the first year is quite intensive)

MY ortho has had me come back every 16 weeks for retainer adjustments. Still not happy with the adjustments so we persist.

HOWEVER, my kids have a different ortho and they had 2 checks about 8 weeks apart and were set free after that.

Depends on the ortho and the case. As I've had lots of adjustments and never had them closer than 12 weeks, I should not have worried.

Let us know how it goes!

Since I've been out of braces for 18 months now, and not wanting to drive 60 miles to my old ortho, I went to see a local ortho who made me a new essix retainer right in the office. He just charged me for the retainer, thats it. Although the office manager told me follow up visits would cost a minimal fee (quite reasonable). I don't see the need for any follow ups at this stage but its nice to know I have a place to go.

When I first got retainers they were both hawleys and they did some adjusting a couple of times, only because two teeth wanted to move back and he put a bend in the wire and activated a spring that was in one of them. Followups would be every few months or so.

Its true some orthos don't want patients for just retainer checks. I'm speculating but perhaps because the money is in the ortho treatment not in follow ups. I suggest you call around. Usually those "dental groups" with a "visiting" ortho" several times a month are more likely to take the case.

Essix retainers last maybe 3-4 years and hawleys can last 15+ years but essix seem so much more comfortable that I think they are worth it.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, everyone! This is very helpful.

I am going in on Wednesday for the de-bracing, and will know more about the "retainer plan" then, so I'll keep you posted.

Very good to hear that some people have found a new ortho for their retainer only, at not too horrible a cost. There's no way I'd want to drive 6+ hrs just for a retainer check-up...

When I got mine in I was told to come back 3 months later, so it certainly varies

So I got the Essix retainers on Friday. Ugh. Takes some getting used to! My ortho also wants me to go back in 3 months, just to see how things are going. And I am only to wear these things at night - every night for the first year, and then once or twice a week thereafter. Strange, no "24/7" at all.

Thanks everyone for your advice, and yeay to going naked

Congrats!!

It took me a couple days to get used to the essix, but before I knew it I was speaking normally and found them to be quite comfortable. Talk to yourself in the car, it helps warm you up for speaking in public!