Metal Mouth Message Board

I did a search at Archwired and Google and there seems to be a wide variance in recommended times to wear retainers day and night after debanding. 24/7 for a year is the longest recommended time I've found (Dr Randall on the AsktheDoc forum), and have seen as short a time as a month. The orthodontic...

Like Chris, I have two plastic retainer containers, one for one and one to carry with me. Ditto on the hot liquids--don't drink any while wearing your Essix. I got my retainer two days after deband, a quicker tat then some orthodontists. There easy to wear and cleaning your teeth is a breeze. I am s...

I'm really surprised at the prices that you are saying the replacement are! My ortho told me it would cost me $300 to replace my Essix retainers. I just got my braces off about a month ago and I just found a crack on the retainer today. :cry: So far, they said it was ok to wear but I know it will o...

Thanks for your replies, Meryaten and KK. It cheered me to hear from you. Sorry I have not been around for awhile. Good to know you are both doing well. I visited my orthodontist for a retainer check today. She was able to tighten the Essix retainers (clear plastic) some to help reduce or close the ...

I got my braces off recently after about 3 years wearing them. My teeth look wonderfully straight. I visited my dentist for a check-up, x-rays, and a cleaning today. Also, thankfully, no cavities over the entire time wearing braces. He said there are band spaces (where the metal bands were attached ...

It cheered me to get back to the board after watching a televised baseball game tonight to see the responses to my post. Thanks! I read article about pomegranate and its cancer-fighting effects. I plan to adjust my diet to help prevent a recurrence of cancer, although it appears that the surgeons go...

D-Day (Deband Day) is getting nearer. We are planning, if everything goes well, to remove my braces this month. I've been in braces for two--count 'em--years. My teeth are straighter, my bite corrected, and my profile has significantly changed. I am pleased with the results and look forward to the n...

57, and still glad I got braces. With good care and some luck, my teeth will last a lifetime!

About a year ago, I did the same local library search for a Braces 101 book. There was nothing I could find to satisfy my own curiosity. Everything was too simple. I did a University library search and found that all the orthodontics texts were geared to dental students, so too technical. I wish the...

Some folks do seem to get cavities and other dental problems regardless of good hygiene and others can do next to nothing and have no cavities or dental problems. My take is that those whose hygiene does not follow current dental recommendations that includes flossing daily are playing Russian roule...

I've already discussed with my orthodontist that I am able and willing to leave my braces on until the teeth are in the best possible postion. I've been in braces for about 16 months, with a 20 to 24-month estimated treatment time. Do orthodontists base the time of treatment somewhat on the patient'...

Braces are a pain in the mouth at first, but we humans beings are resilient and get used to them. My biggest problem during the time I've been in braces was my tongue-jail sentence (Read: I had an upper quad-helix expander for half a year). Now I don't care how long they stay on. If the doc says &qu...

Congratulations on getting your braces and welcome to the big group of over-40 adults on this forum. I am 56 and in braces for the 2nd time, having had them as an adolescent. Orthodontics treatment has changed considerably since then, and this round is much easier, although I spent half a year in to...

I agree with Randall that it pays to check out what services are included in your treatment, who is performing the work, etc. Fees seem to be pretty standard within about a 20% range. I also talked to my orthodontist extensively before committing to treatment, to discuss treatment goals and to get a...

I haven't been at the Forum for awhile and just read the open and public messages back and forth between Drs. Rick and Randall. It really left a bad taste in my mouth. I work in health care and have seen this sort of thing between physicians, where they get really down-and-dirty nasty with each othe...