Metal Mouth Message Board

Today was my first appointment with my orthodontist since getting my retainers. I was told to wear the retainers 24/7 for 2 months and then come back to see him. I mentioned in another post that it was difficult to wear my retainers all day at work because my job involves a lot of talking and the retainers were effecting my speech. I started taking the retainers out at work, then putting them in a bit later, then taking them out again (you get the picture). This went on for the first few weeks, then I eventually stopped wearing them at work all together . As soon as I got home from work I'd put them in and wear them until the next morning when it was time to go to work again.

So back to my orthodontist appointment today... I was expecting to get a lecture or something for my irresponsible retainer wear...but no! The orthodontist said my retainers were fitting PERFECTLY and he said how good it was that I was wearing them so faithfully ( hehehe!). He said I only need to wear them about 12 hours a day from now until my next appointment in 4 months, so I can just wear them when I'm at home and at bedtime.

One last thing he told me was if your retainer is snug when you put it in after having it out for a while and within a few minutes after having it in your mouth it fits comfortably again, then you know you're wearing it enough.

Naomi,

thanks for the post! I confess that since I had my lower Hawley adjusted by my ortho last week, I've been leaving the upper (essix) and my lower out of my mouth from the time I wake up until after lunchtime. I'd been wearing them pretty much 24/7 prior to last week, but the adjustment my ortho made felt like a major braces adjustment and when I'd wake up, my teeth hurt!

My lower retainer feels exactly as your ortho says it should, so, I am not too worried now! Thanks!

I was expecting to get a lecture or something for my irresponsible retainer wear...but no! The orthodontist said my retainers were fitting PERFECTLY and he said how good it was that I was wearing them so faithfully ( hehehe!). He said I only need to wear them about 12 hours a day from now until my next appointment in 4 months, so I can just wear them when I'm at home and at bedtime. .

Lucky girl !!

naoimi: I love how u have the devil's grin smiley, it made me laugh so hard. I just got my retainer this week and I'm supposed to wear them 24/7 for 6mos but I really don't want to during work and school because I talk a little funny....so I might just be like you and try to get away with not wearing it 24/7...

ps. just curious, but how long did u have ur braces on for?

Hahaha I am such a bad influence! (or rather --> ). I had braces for 2 years.

Haha; I think we are all guilty of this!! I was braced for a year and because of time conflicts between my dentist and I (he decided to only work Tuesdays and Thrusdays which are my day of classes!) I had to get them off early.

I'll leave them out for about 8-10 hours of the day and when I put my retainer in I may have to click it up there but there's no pain from my teeth moving! I wonder if they tell everyone that to scare them... like when you gas tank says E and you say, I know I've got 40 more miles at least!!

No, you're not a bad influence!

lildave: 8-10 hours?? wow, I guess they do tell us to keep it in 24/7 just to scare us!!

so far I'm almost reaching the 1 week pt of having my retainer in, and I still HATE IT!!!!!! I'm already cheating