Retainer wear time?

Message

#1 Post by **Treehugger** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:49 am

Hi Everyone,

I'm just wondering what everyone was told on their retainer wear time. I just found out that I'm supposed to wear my upper clear (essix) retainer for 16 hours per day for a year and then every night after that first year is up.

What have you been told?

Thanks!

#2 Post by **finnball** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 12:12 pm

24/7 for the first year, nights for the second year! Sounds like you got lucky

#3 Post by **Treehugger** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:36 pm

I guess I did get lucky! I can't imagine wearing this bulky essix retainer for 24 hours a day...plus it hurts, but maybe that will go away since I only got my braces removed yesterday.

What type(s) of retainer(s) do you have finnball?

#4 Post by **finnball** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 4:50 pm

I have Essix too, upper and lower. Congrats on getting debraced! I just got mine off this morning.

Mine hurt too right now, but I think it's normal for them to hurt in the beginning since our poor gums are shocked from the debracing...at least that's what my ortho told me!

Are you doing your 16 hours during waking hours or evenings and during sleep?

#5 Post by **Treehugger** » Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:14 pm

Thanks! Congrats on getting yours off too!

I have a lower bonded retainer so that is saving me from having to wear a lower retainer, I guess I am thankful for that.

My ortho didn't really say anything about things begin sensitive or gums being shocked, wish he would have. My gums were bleeding when I first placed the upper retainer in at the office, that kind of shocked me and they said it was normal. Makes sense though, my gums are hurting and my teeth are extremely sensitive to cold and they are achey too. I also have been having headaches, are you getting that too? Hope this doesn't last too long!

I plan on wearing the retainer all night while I sleep and then I have been breaking the other time (8 hours or so) up during the day whenever I'm not eating or drinking something. I have been trying to keep track of how many hours it is during the day, but I don't know how long I will last on that, you know?

#6 Post by **finnball** » Thu Apr 22, 2010 7:56 am

My gums bled a lot when he was polishing...my ortho said it was normal also. I've been doing warm salt water rinses 2x/day and it seems to have helped. They're still a little sore but no more bleeding.

I don't have headaches now but I've heard that's pretty common - hope it gets better soon!

#7 Post by **MrMetalMouth1029** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:14 pm

I had a little bleeding too, but after I left the ortho's office, I don't recall it happening again.

I have clear retainers, upper and lower, as well as a fixed lower retainer. I alternate every 12 hours, and the prognosis is basically until told otherwise. I go back for a checkup in July and may be told otherwise at that point.

#8 Post by **Treehugger** » Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:49 pm

Thanks MrMetalMouth and congrats on getting yours off too!

And thanks for your help too finball!

I'm still getting headaches, but the tooth sensitivity is slowly getting better. And my gums aren't bleeding, except when I floss, but I expect them to toughen up in a few weeks since I wasn't flossing as much as I should have with the braces.

#9 Post by **sgguy** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 8:47 pm

I'm instructed to wear the plastic retainers only during sleep every night for at least 8 hrs for LIFE!

As u all know , the disadvantage of wearing this type of retainers is u got to brush ur teeth after eating/snacking before u can put it on again. Else ur teeth are gonna rot inside the retainers!