Vivera retainers or essix retainers?

[theawkwardone]

Hello all, I am fairly new to this forum, but have followed it for quite some time now! Alright, down to the basics. I was in braces for the second time around (dog chewed retainer) and recently got them off. I was give the standard Essix retainer from my ortho and it worked very well. Unfortunately, due to stress-induced clenching, I ended up cracking my retainers within the first month or so. I was told that Vivera retainers are much more durable and are actually more comfortable than the Essix retainers. Is this true? What has been your experiences with each retainer? I ended up agreeing to go with the Vivera retainers for right now, and they feel so comfortable that I can't even tell I'm wearing a retainer. For those who have worn these, have you had the same experiences? Let me know! I look forward to your opinions!

[djspeece]

I've been wearing Vivera retainers for about 9 months now, and love them. I started off with an Essex as a temporary, was not that impressed with the durability (and I don't grind). The only small issue is that they can be a challenge to remove , as they are snug. When I picked then up at the ortho, he had me install them them then determined where the best place would be to start to remove them (you need to start at the molars. So for me I had some wiggle room at the bottom right and top left. I also discovered I could better grip them using a cotton t shirt, latex gloves, or even a tissue.
They seem very durable, with little evidence of wear. I received 4 sets, and occasionally use another set as they do loosen up very slightly.

[theawkwardone]

[quote="djspeece"]I've been wearing Vivera retainers for about 9 months now, and love them. I started off with an Essex as a temporary, was not that impressed with the durability (and I don't grind). The only small issue is that they can be a challenge to remove , as they are snug. When I picked then up at the ortho, he had me install them them then determined where the best place would be to start to remove them (you need to start at the molars. So for me I had some wiggle room at the bottom right and top left. I also discovered I could better grip them using a cotton t shirt, latex gloves, or even a tissue.
They seem very durable, with little evidence of wear. I received 4 sets, and occasionally use another set as they do loosen up very slightly.[/quote]


Thank you for your input! I have heard mixed reviews about vivera- though it is more positive than not!