Delay in Impressions for Retainers

[amorri73]

I had my braces removed six months ago, and I am still having major issues. Before I make another appointment to see my Ortho, I want to get some feedback in order to be as prepared as possible for any pushback he may give me.

My issue is that my rear molars do not even come close to touching on the right side (making it extremely hard to chew since my bite is so far off), and my lower front teeth are going crooked again. I have a list of things that I believe have led to this in the back of my mind that didn't seem right at the time, and I would like some opinions on.

1. I had an adjustment 2 weeks before having my braces removed, and I was still in elastics up until my debracing. I feel like my teeth/ligaments had no time to "settle in" to their new position. Which leads to...

2. My Ortho waited a week after my braces were removed to take impressions of my teeth for my Essex retainer (I was given top only to wear).

3. He then had me come back two weeks after that for my retainer - so now we're looking at three weeks debraced with no removeable retainer.

4. I was given permanent retainers on the top and bottom the day I was debraced, however, he did not glue the wire to each individual tooth even though I explained to him that I have no problem flossing each tooth separately. (He insisted on doing it his way because he said it's more convenient for flossing purposes.) I told him again after 2 months and 4 months (when my lower teeth kept getting more crooked, that I have no issue with "convenience", I just want to keep my teeth straight regardless of the extra 30 seconds of extra flossing time.

5. At my last appointment, when it was apparent that my teeth were not getting any better (why would they just magically get better with no coarse of action - ugh), he started throwing around the idea of sending me to an oral surgeon. I really don't want to drop more money if this was preventable.

Ok, am I crazy, or did the above factors contribute to the state my teeth are now in? Advice/opinions?

[illay]

hi amorri73, of course the delay in retainer will make your teeth shift. Teeth can shift even in a day. If he didn't glue the permanent retainer on each of your front teeth, i don't see there's a function they are there. But when you first get them off, are they already like that? I hope he can make some twist in the retainer to repair the movement. Looking forward to the result of your consultation. keep update !

[ktr78]

I am very surprised how so many orthos deband patients and then don't IMMEDIATELY take impressions. I pretty much had a similar experience as you although my wait was only hours. In the small amount of time between being debanded and getting impressions taken, my teeth moved as well. Even in that short amount of time... Now my bite feels off...one side touches, other does not unless I force it. And I also had elastics and tweeks until the moment of debanding, thereby not giving my teeth time to settle before removing the braces.

It is very frustrating, given the time we spend in braces, and I think you are very correct in your assessment. You do not need surgery...that is ridiculous. You relapsed as anyone would without a retainer... You need to consult with another "better" ortho who can possibly make some minor adjustments with a retainer or even invisalign. Your ortho sounds like he doesn't want to take responsibility. Please do not have surgery.

[amorri73]

Thank you for your responses. It makes me feel better knowing I'm not just being difficult or over thinking the situation. What really bugs me is that I had done all my research on this board so that I would know what to expect when getting my braces off, and my ortho did things so differently. I even remember asking him if I would get impressions taken the day of debracing (I had even taken some Tylenol since some folks on here said their teeth felt a bit sore when they pull out the impression material), and he said, "No, it's typical to wait a couple weeks to let your bite settle. Just chew a bunch of gum in the meantime to speed things along". Well, it certainly helped speed along my teeth moving into the WRONG position. I also asked for a Hawley retainer because I had read some stories on here of people's bites being off because their molars don't meet in an Essex, but he said I'd be better off in an Essex - that was all the explanation I got - just that I'd be better off. Ummm, yeah, I'm so much better off now.

Thanks for letting me vent. Also, I have no problem going back in braces if it means that my teeth and bite will get fixed. I just have the feeling like he's going to try to say everything under the sun to try to talk me out of it because he doesn't want to lose money on me by having to be rebanded. That's why I posted this to get ammunition for his rebuttals.

[illay]

I also had elastics and tweeks until the moment of debanding, thereby not giving my teeth time to settle before removing the braces.
It is very frustrating, given the time we spend in braces, and I think you are very correct in your assessment.

Reading your story, i think this happened to me as well. I still had elastic before my debanding. It is very frustrating indeed. For the payment, time and anxious that we spent.

Just chew a bunch of gum in the meantime to speed things along". Well, it certainly helped speed along my teeth moving into the WRONG position

lol..i am agree with you.

[Avalon Rose]

wow, Im' so glad that it's not just me. I got debraced, and he literally stood there smacking his hands saying Hurry hurry, its' closing time. I was so mad, he did not have time for me... they said come in tomorrow to getyour retainer... so thats what Idid, overnight my front tooth pushed backout. I cried, for weeks... then my retainer broke and they wanted me to spend 500 dollars for them to *pour* me another one. I was so infuriated at this point that I ust said to forgetit. Now 10 years later I am so angry that I am getting another set of braces. I hate paying for it but I am unhappy with my teeth. Don't wait 10 years, get it taken care of immediately.

[bmueller]

I haven't finished treatment yet but have seen/heard some patients on debanding day. My ortho won't take the braces off unless the patient has can fit in two appointments in a given day. They come in Morning to get braces taken off and impressions done. In the afternoon they return to get the retainers (Essix). If the schedule doesn't work, she won't do it.

I can't imagine waiting weeks! That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.