Essix Retainers Not Effective?

[kalok228]

Hi. I've had Essix Clear Retainers made for me and have been wearing them for about 5 weeks now. The orthodontist recommended to wear them all the time (but take them off when eating and brushing) for at least 2 weeks and then I can wear them only in evenings and night after the 2 weeks.

To be on the safe side, I have been wearing them all the time for 4/5 weeks now. But it stills seems that whenever I remove them for say 4 hours or more and then put them back on, it doesn't fit as well. It seems that during these few hours that I had them off, the teeth have shifted slighty?

I'm worried that if I keep them off for like 12 hours, it would not longer fit. It's been 5 weeks....why are the teeth still shifting so quickly? Is it normal for them to still be moving so quickly even after 5 weeks?

(Also as a side question, is Steradent safe to use to soak the essix retainers? I'm currently using retainer brite but it may be expensive to keep buying this when steradent is available for half the price)

Thanks.

[Harriet]

I've just gotten an essix retainer for my lower teeth (got it yesterday). I've been advised to just wear it outside of work hours and at night, but i'm going to try and do full time wear for quite a while if I can as when I got the retainer it wouldn't fit properly as my teeth had moved. My teeth are so sore today (back onto soft foods) and can't imagine that they will ever not be sore if I keep the retainer in only at night. Surely they will move back during the day, and then move into the right place overnight?

[Bullfighter]

I think your teeth are still very 'mobile' after 5 weeks. I'd give it time.

I actually switched back (with my ortho's OK) from my Hawley to my Essix for my lower teeth because the Hawley was allowing them to relapse. The Essix keeps them nicely in line.

I wear mine full time (except eating and brushing), and had my braces off in August. Ortho said 5 months...

[kalok228]

@Harriet:

Well mine are not sore but after not wearing them for a few hours, they seem to move so much that it becomes and uncomfortable fit. But then I agree that they seem to move back into place when I have them on for an hour or so.


@Bullfighter:

So how long do you reckon that it would take before it gets less mobile? My orthodontist did recommend that I kept wearing them even after the 2 years which normal orthodontists recommend. So surely after say 5 months, it will begin to shift less when the retainers are off since the mouth has gotten used to the position right?

[reporter0511]

I just got my braces removed one week ago, and was fitted for an Essix retainer. I was told to wear it 24 hours a day except for when eating and brushing for the first 6 months, and then switch to only nights. So far so good, although it's been a huge adjustment. The first 36 hours was quite painful and extremely tight almost feeling like having my brackets adjusted again. The Essix retainer really suctions and is quite compact. My othordontist swears by it, so hopefully it works well. I have a good feeling about it since my orthodontist told me that the Hawley retainer sometimes allows the teeth to shift. So far, I;ve been happy with my Essix.

[Bullfighter]

... @Bullfighter:

So how long do you reckon that it would take before it gets less mobile? My orthodontist did recommend that I kept wearing them even after the 2 years which normal orthodontists recommend. So surely after say 5 months, it will begin to shift less when the retainers are off since the mouth has gotten used to the position right?

My ortho suggested full time wear till March, so he's probably thinking 5-6 months. While I don't know this for a fact, persistent use (rather than taking them in and out) seems like a good idea -- lock the teeth into position instead of bending them back and forth.

I will probably be wearing retainers at night for many years.

[Labguy]

@reporter: Your ortho telling you that the hawley retainers sometimes allows teeth to shift means 1) it wasn't made right, 2) he doesn't know how to fit/adjust it right or 3) he's just blowing smoke up your butt because using essix retainers are a cheaper alternative to hawley retainers.