Metal Mouth Message Board

I clench my mouth when I sleep. I often wake up to find my Essix retainers in my way. I am also concerned that I may damage the retainers by making a hole while I am clenching my mouth real tight. I wonder if Howley is a better option for a sleeper like me. What do you think?

I'm a few weeks out from getting my braces off. My dentist uses clear retainers (Essix style) for his patients. I'm having a sleep study done this week to see what type of customization I may need for my retainer. I was a severe bruxer prior to beginning treatment with my orthodontist. He has indicated he can "build up" my retainer to accommodate the bruxing if he needs to. It might be something to ask your orthodontist about.

I have essix retainers and clench during the night too. I often wake up to find my jaws jammed together so hard my teeth can hurt. When I first got my essix retainers I was very worried about how they would handle my clenching but they seem to have done ok so far, no damage has been done but then again I've only been wearing them 4 weeks. Now that I have been wearing them nightly for 4 weeks I do not feel as worried about them, I think they will last me quite a while. They look quite thick to some I have seen so maybe mine are thicker. I would also think people might have more of a problem if only one arch has an essix retainer, with both arches wearing essix retainers only the essix are coming into contact on the biting surface of the teeth.

Definitely discuss it with your ortho though. I plan to when I get round to it. I mentioned it to my dentist at my checkup after my braces were removed and even he suggested I talk to my ortho about it and see whether a hawley might be better for night time.

I have a bonded retainer, so am only required to wear a removable one for 12 hours overnight, although my ortho did say that it would do no harm to wear the removable for longer during the first few weeks, which I have done. My ortho gave me an essix removable and I paid extra to get a hawley. I usually wear the hawley when I go to bed and make up additional hours with the essix. That regime seems to be working OK.

Jem

My braces came off this morning. I picked up my Essix retainers this evening. I talked to my dentist about my bruxism concerns and he took some extra molds so I could get a sleep appliance. When I get them, I'll have the sleep splint at night and retainers during the day. In the meantime, the said the Essix 24/7 is fine.

My new sleep appliance is an Essix with a 'wedge' added that keeps my lower jaw from falling back when I'm lying down. Tonight will be my second night. I had to have it adjusted quite a bit today, but it now feels more comfortable. I'm hopeful with the positioning that it will keep me from bruxing. Time will tell.

I actually came up with kind of a makeshift solution for clenching with essix retainers in. I still wear a top one at night and I was having issues, so I decided to try moulding a mouthguard around it, and it worked for me! Obviously I don't know if that would be a solution for anyone else, but I've been using it for a while with no issues.