Metal Mouth Message Board

I have essix retainers top and bottom, and I have to wear them 24/7 for six months. I only got them today but it really bothers me that I can't bite properly with them, as in there is a gap between the upper and lower teeth at the front, but the plastic further back touches? I'm hoping this is due to movement between debanding and getting the retainers, and will settle down? Any one else had this problem?

Hi Roses,

Because your jaw hinges at the back of your mouth, it is likely that anything covering the biting surfaces near the back of your mouth will have an exaggerated effect at the front of your mouth because of a pivot-type action.

You will presumably not be eating with the essix retainers in, so not being able to bite at the front should not be a major issue.

But do keep an eye on what your bite is like without your retainers in. If there is any hint of a gap developing between your front top and bottom teeth when biting down, you should contact your orthodontist.

I think I have read somewhere that there is a school of thought that wearing essix retainers 24/7 can cause an open bite at the front and this is the reason why some orthodontists instruct their patients only to wear their essix retainers part time or full time only for a very brief period. I have no idea whether there is any truth in this or whether it is just another orthodontic myth. As far as I can see, there seems to have been little conclusive research about the (very important) retention phase of orthodontics.

Having had my teeth straightened as an older adult, my orthodontist was of the view that my teeth would be prone to relapse and gave me a bonded retainer. I was also given a removable retainer to wear at night over the bonded retainer. She was happy for the removable retainer to be either essix or hawley.

I hope you are enjoying your new smile!

Jem