If you have finished with your orthodontic treatment and are wearing retainers (or will be soon), this is a special place to connect with others in your (enviable) situation. Ask a question or make a comment about life post-braces.
LyraM45 wrote:Right now I have a hawley on the bottom and an essix on top. Coming up on 5-6 weeks debanded in this set up. I am not digging the essix at all. I don't like the bulky plastic covering my tooth surface preventing my lower teeth from touching the bottom teeth. I think this is making me clench, so I've had constant headaches in these retainers. I see my ortho next week for a retainer check and I think I am going to ask him to switch me to a hawley on the top too. Over all I think it's more comfortable and I really hope I'll clench less if my teeth are touching without that damn plastic in between!
I thought maybe I was crazy for preferring the hawley, but seems like lots of others do too!
I had clenching problems when I was wearing Essix retainers on both arches. My clenching got better when we swapped out the lower Essix for a Hawley. I was a clencher and grinder before braces though, so it isn't too surprising that having the bite surfaces of both arches covered would make it worse. My orthodontist said it was actually pretty common to have clenching as a result of two clear retainers. Hopefully switching out your upper Essix for a Hawley fixes you up. You've been through quite the ordeal, I don't blame you for wanting to maintain what you have right now.
Thanks! I think this will probably be a good switch for me. I see my ortho on Mon to take the mold and make the hawley for the top. Luckily he set me right up with no questions asked. I know at first he was hesitant and basically said "well, just stop clenching." (kind of jokingly, but basically saying give it a shot and try to be aware that I am clenching and try to stop). It's been almost 6 weeks now. I gave it enough time and he knows if I am saying something is bugging me, then it must be legit significant because I typically don't complain about anything. So, cross your fingers the hawley will work for me!
So... got the hawley on the top. Def better! I still need to get it adjusting because I think the wire on my upper left is still interfearing with the bite just a touch, but otherwise we're in good shape and I am not clenching and getting the clenching headaches.
BUT... I thought I could still use the essix. Maybe keep it on hand for an extra retainer in case the hawley is lost/broken/etc. I just tried to pop it in after having the hawley now for 5 days, and OUCHIE!!!! It barely fits, and it's pretty damn uncomfortable. I've heard each retainer may retain a little differently, IE: one may keep spaces better than the other and stuff. I wonder what has changed now in the hawley? I just want to make sure my teeth aren't super shifty in it. The thing almost feels TOO comfortable. Like, it doesn't even feel like it snaps in hard like my lower hawley. Hopefully it's not too lose and letting my teeth shift or something! Anybody else have experience with this??
Well I have never had a Hawley, but I really like my Essix so far. Have had it for about 3 months now and no issues! I do have two sets, a regular set and a set for night time that has a bite plate so I can't grind at night. It's definitely doing its job! I don't think I'd like having a Hawley due to it being visible.
Braces on March 6th, 2015
Metal Empower self-ligating brackets, upper and lower
Class II, Division II overbite with crowding
Upper 2nd premolars extracted May 1st, 2015
First Powerchain and Class II Manatee Elastics June 15th, 2015
TADs placed July 27th, 2015
Box Manatee Elastics April 1st, 2016
Teeth shaping May 4th, 2016
LyraM45 wrote:BUT... I thought I could still use the essix. Maybe keep it on hand for an extra retainer in case the hawley is lost/broken/etc. I just tried to pop it in after having the hawley now for 5 days, and OUCHIE!!!! It barely fits, and it's pretty damn uncomfortable. I've heard each retainer may retain a little differently, IE: one may keep spaces better than the other and stuff. I wonder what has changed now in the hawley? I just want to make sure my teeth aren't super shifty in it. The thing almost feels TOO comfortable. Like, it doesn't even feel like it snaps in hard like my lower hawley. Hopefully it's not too lose and letting my teeth shift or something! Anybody else have experience with this??
My lower Essix was swapped for a Hawley. I put my lower Essix in one day because I was constantly running my tongue over my bonded retainer...it was pretty tight for a bit, but it settled down really quickly. I had read a study that said the retention was pretty much the same between the two types of retainers so long as the patient was complaint with wearing them. You know better than anyone to check with your team when you have questions, but I'm not surprised to find that the Essix is tight at first. I've also noticed that if I wear my Essix during the day to keep from tearing my tongue up on the bonded retainer, my Hawley doesn't feel as tight as it would if I hadn't worn a retainer during the day.
