Metal Mouth Message Board

I would expect that your teeth will move back where they belong with 24/7 wear of your retainer. Didn't your orthodontist suggset 24 hours a day for at least six months? Your teeth haven't settled yet..takes a long time and they will move anytime your retainer is off!

Update: Because it's been 14 months of wearing top bonded retainer the orthodontist said there was no reason to keep it since I am still wearing my Hawleys at night. She removed it...it's heavenly to be able to floss regular on top now!

You would have to remove your retainers while using the White Strips..they definetely would get pushed up and off your teeth if you tried to put your Essix on with them!

I suggest both....bonded retainers plus Hawleys for nighttime wear..at least for the first year. My ortho said bonded retainers for one year then it was up to me after that but always the Hawleys at night which is fine with me! The only downfall is that it's harder to floss...haha..I only have 4 hou...

Sounds fair enough! I'm thinking maybe a compromise and have the top bonded just behind my front two teeth then of course still keeping the bottom one. I want/need that one forever since bottom teeth relapse the most!

I have bonded top and bottom retainers which I have had just a little over a year. I also wear wrap around hawleys everynight faithfully. Tomorrow I have an appt to replace my top bonded retainer. I remember them saying that I should wear it for year then it was up to me after that.. I'd really love...

I was curious because I wondered if they send the molds out to be made if they come back any more durable than the ones they make in office. (haha..of course I am sure if I requested they be made out of the office that that might be offensive and even then I have no clue if they would come back bett...

I'll have to ask and find out! Are the ones they make in the office an actual Essix retainer or just a spinoff of them generally?

Well finally my gaps have closed with these wrap around Hawleys! My Orthodontist said if gaps were closed she would make me the clear retainers instead on July 8 when she does my final records. I don't really know if hers are called Essix as she makes them herself but my question is: can they be mad...

Just follow the instructions from your orthodontist, keep them clean and wear them always! Remind yourself that you don't want to throw away what you've worked so hard for. The first year of retention is very important!

Depends on if your retainers were made before the gaps opened up. If so then I would say that yes they could close the gaps but if the impressions for the retainers were made while the gaps were there I would guess they won't close. For me they had to make new Hawleys that were the wrap around kind ...

Hey that's great news! So glad you are doing better!!

((pokergirl)) I would suggest calling your Orthdontist and tell him/her how uncomfortable this positioner is. Perhaps it needs some type of adjustment? You have my sympathy! I am fighting a tightened wrap around retainer and it's hurting so badly. Braces were easier for me too!

Update on tightened wrap arounds...the bottom ones are now killing me. They dig into the gums by the bone on the side of my mouth and they keep popping off on the back left. :( Does anyone know if they can make Essix retainers that will close a gap? I have one remaining gap on the bottom and am not ...

LOL! That's gross Meraten..the sad thing is that someone would buy it I'm sure!