If you have finished with your orthodontic treatment and are wearing retainers (or will be soon), this is a special place to connect with others in your (enviable) situation. Ask a question or make a comment about life post-braces.
I can't believe I'm posting on the Naked Forum...being so newly naked and all.
For those of you who had to wait a week before your retainers came in, how much movement did you notice? How tight was the hawley retainer when you put it in?
My teeth that had the powerchain on seem so sore, fragile.
Common?
Top Braces June 2004
Bottom Braces November 2004
Debanded January 2007
The impressions were taken immediately upon debanding.
The retainers I get next week.
At first there was some pressure on my front teeth bite, but after a few hours without the powerchain it loosened up great. Kinda like taking off a girdle. But that goes to show how quickly teeth move.
Top Braces June 2004
Bottom Braces November 2004
Debanded January 2007
Only a week to get your Hawleys? Wow. I only wish. I was debanded on the bottom in October and had to wait a month for my retainer to come in. My teeth sort of fell inward and the Hawley was horribly tight for days. I still have to pry it out of my mouth. I can't lift it out with my tongue.
My uppers came off at the beginning of January and I won't get my Hawley(s) until February 1st. I've seen a significant amount of shifting during the interrim and I hate it. I am a severe tongue thruster, so I'm getting two Hawleys for the top: one with a tongue gate to wear at night and one without to wear during the day.
Because of the severity of my thrusting problem, I'll probably wear retainers (at least at night) for the rest of my life (I'm 37). I'm definitely NOT doing all of this again.
But on the plus side, I've found there's nothing quite as good as the Retainer Diet. Braces didn't stop me from snacking, but having a retainer sure has. I've lost about 10 lbs since getting my bottom retainer. Woohoo for that!
Chris- lucky you with your braces being taken off! When I got mine taken off (early December) then I had to wait a week just like you until I got my Hawleys. I don't remember them being too bad, I mean, they will be a little tight, but they shouldn't be TOO tight! Your teeth will probably shift a bit, until you put that retainer in, but I wouldn't be worried!
I don't understand why they would take braces off without having the retainers there; there is the ability to craft the retainer with the braces still on. I had the mold done for my retainers 2 weeks before I was debanded. The day I was debanded, my retainers was there, and she adjusted them after the braces was removed.
Hello there. I agree with Victory. I had impressions two weeks ago and am having the braces removed this Thursday. It makes NO sense to remove braces and wait ANY time to put on retainers. My ortho said they didn't want any shifting.
I will be getting my braces off in a couple of months (no official date yet). My ortho does the retainers 'in-house'. After the braces are off the impressions are made than the retainers. During the wait time for the retainers I will be running to my dentist to have some chips taken care of. I would not be comfortable waiting past a day for my retainers. I have noticed that my teeth move immediately after any adjustment.