Really thin essix ?

[fangsbegone]

Hey guys and gals,

just wondering if anyone has ever felt their essix was really thin ?

I compared mine to a friends and mine is extremely thin in comparison

I'm starting to think maybe my ortho just went for the cheaper option?

[freysmiles]

Hey guys and gals,

just wondering if anyone has ever felt their essix was really thin ?

I compared mine to a friends and mine is extremely thin in comparison

I'm starting to think maybe my ortho just went for the cheaper option?

Frankly, Essix are cheaper in general, but are good retainers. The thinner Essix retainers are not necessarily a cheaper option. Your orthodontist may be weary of changes to the occlusion that thicker Essix retainers can produce in some people (sometimes you want this) and opted for a thinner retainer.

[bracesarecool]

I still have to get my braces off, and after seeing your post, freysmiles, I was wondering what type of changes to the occlusion can a thick Essix retainer produce? I'm wondering in these taking in count I might get my braces off soon. I hope this isn't considered as going off topic ^^

[freysmiles]

I still have to get my braces off, and after seeing your post, freysmiles, I was wondering what type of changes to the occlusion can a thick Essix retainer produce? I'm wondering in these taking in count I might get my braces off soon. I hope this isn't considered as going off topic ^^

I'll try and keep my explanation simple. In any retainer, small adjustments can be built in by your orthodontist to achieve minor tooth movements, but the occlusal changes I was referring to were the potential for a transient posterior open bite in some patients (your teeth touching only in the front and not in the back).

Since your jaw hinges closed, you will tend to squeeze on your back teeth more when you wear Essix style retainers without any modifications causing your back teeth to touch less in the morning. In patients predisposed to an anterior open bite, this effect is useful in stabilizing your teeth after treatment, in other patients it can be counter productive and needs to be controlled by modifying the retainers. Your orthodontist is responsible for designing the retainers to hold your teeth long term.