Metal Mouth Message Board

I know from speaking with a Professor of Orthodontics that retention is one of the most common reasons for litigation in dentistry today. You could say that retention is orthodontists 'dirty little secret'. Things have changed and nowadays practitioners will have you sign a consent form to say you a...

The thing to remember, as I have learnt from personal experience, is that no matter what system you use to straighten your teeth, IA or whatever, if you don't retain your teeth afterwards, and for as long as you want them to stay in the same place, it is all a waste of time. My sister just went thro...

Retainers can re-align teeth to a point. Beyond that only more orthodontic treatment will move them. This is why it is so important to always use your retainers. I use chrome cobalt retainers that should last forever, but if I go away and forget them, then come back and find my teeth have moved a bi...

Hi Greg, I had the same thing happen to me. A small part of the retainer came away from one of the teeth. It shouldn't be a problem for a month or so, so long as it is not bothering you too much. It is unlikely to come off the rest of the teeth in this time. You could ask to have it completely remov...

That is hilarious! I guess it is one way of helping kids get used to the idea of going to the dentist! As for caption ideas.....

"Play-Doh taught everything your Orthodontist needed to know!"

Hi there, you could try not wearing them for a day and see how they feel when you put them in at the end of the day. If they feel tight then you should probably persevere. The last thing you want is for your teeth to move. Perhaps you could wear them for just parts of the day until your Hawley is re...

Hi there, I know the problem well. My bonded retainer started to come away at one end and was really irritating and sometimes painful if it caught my tongue. Eventually I got it removed. As far as I remember they used a high speed drill to remove the bonding cement. I guess after they have removed e...

Hello everyone,

m name is Loran and I am happy to have found this forum. It looks really great and I'm looking forward to discussing some of the orthodontic problems that are of interest to me.

Cheers