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 got my lowers off recently and my ortho has given me a fixed bonded lower retainer plus an essix. He said to wear the essix for 2 weeks full time and then go to nights only Looking at other posts most people wear the essix for much longer than 2 weeks full time? What do you think?
Plus is anyone else's essix not level at the bottom edge? My retainer covers more height of my teeth on one side of my mouth to ther other? Maybe its just the way the molds were taken?
My ortho's instructions were 24/7 for one year, then nightly for 2 years, then maybe I can skip a night or two.
My first essix did not cover the entire tooth to the gum line, but my new ones goes way past the tooth to the gum line. Different orthos. Not sure if it makes a difference. Ask.
Top Braces June 2004
Bottom Braces November 2004
Debanded January 2007
thanks chris thats quite a difference in timelines
i'm thinking i may wear my retainer full time for longer than instructed - after all i think it can't do any harm as it going to retain the teeth position you would think?
Maybe the reason you're only in it full-time for 2 weeks is because you have a bonded retainer? That would be my guess I had essix retainers the first time around and will again this time. Mine didn't fit right, and they had air bubbles in them and went way beyond my gumline. That resulted in one HUGE, long canker sore that went clear from my left to my right cheek on the inside of both my upper and lower lips. He had to cut them, then told me not to wear them a little while after. But that's another story altogether.
I think they'll still work fine regardless, it's got to dow ith the molds I think.
Initial Consult: August 22nd, 2008
Upper Arch Bracketed: October 22nd, 2008
Lower Arch Bracketed: December 3rd, 2008
Debraced: October 15th, 2009
My 15 yr old son only had to wear his Essix retainer full time for 2 weeks, and then nightly for 3 months and then just a couple of nights a week unless he saw movement, in which case he was told to wear it nightly again for as long as he felt necessary.
Looking at other posts most people wear the essix for much longer than 2 weeks full time? What do you think?
