Permanent retainer too close to gums?

[vividi]

I recently finished treatment and now have bonded upper and lower retainers (in addition to Essix). After getting a gum infection, both my dentist and hygienist told me that my upper retainer is too close to the gums and recommended having it removed. It is positioned right next to my gums so I can't use superfloss or interdental brushes to clean between my teeth as they get blocked by the retainer. My ortho thinks that this is not a problem and that using a water flosser to clean there is enough, however I had many problems with him during my treatment and I don't trust him at all. My hygienist thinks a water flosser alone is not enough and that I should be able to use mechanical flossing as well.

Has anybody else experienced something like this? I'm wondering if it's somewhat frequent practice to place the retainer like this or my ortho is just incompetent.

[sneed1o1]

This is one of the reasons I'm concerned about getting another set of bonded retainers after my braces come off this time around. My first time, I had a lot of plaque build up around the bonded retainers. This will forever be a debate between the orthodontists and dentists. I'm going to really press my orthodontist to give me removable retainers only. At least you will have a retainer, AND you will not risk the health of your gums.

[assertives]

I think this is fairly common. I have actually seen a couple of people documenting their braces and post braces journey on youtube and blogs and there has been quite a handful of those who had a permanent retainer complained about not being able to floss properly after getting the permanent retainer and some had perpetually irritated gums as a result of it. Perhaps consider getting it off and sticking only to a removable one once your teeth have settled?

[dyna]

My upper bonded retainer is also very near to my gum line, as else I would hit it with by bottom teeth.