Metal Mouth Message Board

Thanks on the color comments. I like it too. I think it's called Beach Blue (or Oean Blue).

KK, oh yeah, the lower retainer does a great job.

Congratulations on your debanding date! Wow, six years. My hat is off to you.

My teeth were not discolored, but I needed to whiten them after two+ years of not doing so and my coffee habit. No, my ortho did not provide anything.

I think I was given the spring retainer because my ortho really had trouble getting my lower incisors lined up and even in the six days between debanding and getting my retainer, that one stubborn tooth started to shift back. The spring retainer straightened that out within a couple of days.

More pics. Tried to give you a view of my upper retainer and how much space it covers. http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/2573/retupperviewml5.th.jpg Full front...you can see both retainers. Sorry about the saliva bubbles in my lower retainer. http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/136/retfullviewuv2.th...

Click on thumbnails for larger picture. My upper retainer looks like a modified Hawley. http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5545/retuppercg4.th.jpg My lower retainer is a spring retainer and just sits on my lower social six. http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1082/lowermr4.th.jpg According to this li...

And I was told to wear them 24/7 for the first year, and then nightly after that. Man...everyone is sooo different!

I don't eat with them in, but I drink water and coffee. I have a question about drinking diet coke with them in. Will that hurt them? I am drinking one right now and have my retainers out for worries about the carbonation. But I don't want to have to slam my drink!

Thanks KK. I forgot about the Rainbow Passage. I didn't really need it after my surgery, but I surely do now!

Got my retainers. The top one feels like a big wad of bubble gum stuck in the top of my mouth. I sound like a dork though my ortho assures me that after practicing talking for a few hours I'll be back to normal. I don't think so! I will take pictures tonight. Mine doesn't look like anything I've see...

Thanks everyone for your reassurances regarding the retainer. I get it tomorrow and will keep you all posted.

You really are being kind. How I wish it were so, but Thank You!

I started with ceramics on my six social and then after three months switched over to all metal. For me, the ceramics felt too bulky (I never got used to the feeling) and I was constantly worrying about the ligs staining and making my teeth look yellow. Once I switched to the metal I was much more c...

I'm getting nervous...one of my lower incisors, the one tooth that was really stubborn about straightening out is shifting.

Those of you who have had to wait to get your retainer, this is normal, right? The retainer will push it back into place, right?

I don't get my retainer until Tuesday.

My braces came off on Wednesday morning and I don't get my retainer until Tuesday, and my one stubborn lower incisor is starting to shift. I really hope that the retainer will move it back into place. I am willing to wear the retainer as long as I need to in order to get my teeth to stay put. This s...

A real quick drive-by post. Thanks to all of you for your good wishes and congratulations. I haven't tried an apple yet, but I am still amazed that food actually goes down my throat now instead of grabbing every wire and bracket in my mouth. My teeth are a little sore, which I never heard anyone els...