Ugh... Help Permanent Retainer Horrible

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.

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JerryAL
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat May 20, 2017 11:52 pm

Ugh... Help Permanent Retainer Horrible

#1 Post by JerryAL »

I recently completed a dental procedure to straighten my four front top teeth which I am completely satisfied with. It took about 10 months using a combination of an Inman aligner and 2 sets of clear trays.

Then came this awful permanent bonded retainer. I was expecting a thin wire on the back of my teeth with a light bonding put on top of it that would hardly be noticeable. Instead I now have a thin wire with four big globs of glue on the back of each of the four front teeth on the top. To me it just seems unbearable as a permanent solution. I would rather wear an Essix retainer every night then live with this in my mouth.

Is this common for permanent bonded retainers or should I seek a second opinion from another dentist?

Thanks...

turpz
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:00 am

Re: Ugh... Help Permanent Retainer Horrible

#2 Post by turpz »

How long have you had it on? I found mine quite easy to get used to, especially compared to the Inman. Maybe going from a clear aligner to the permanent one was more of a noticeable difference though... If you've not had it long I wouldn't panic, you'll probably get used to it pretty quickly. If it's been on a while then it could be that your dentist used a lot of glue - you could ask if they could file it down a bit?

CeramicCynthia
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2017 7:29 pm

Re: Ugh... Help Permanent Retainer Horrible

#3 Post by CeramicCynthia »

Mine was just a thin wire, I could barely feel it. It sounds like you went to a dentist and not an ortho.
Dentists are not specialists in braces, many only do a weekend course in a specific brand and then start taking on patients. It's possible your dentist is inexperienced in bonded retainers.

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