Metal Mouth Message Board

I've been wearing my retainer about every other night for the last year, and every night before that. My teeth haven't shifted in 8 years

My teeth shifted after 1 year of non use of the hawley retainers. I am wearing them again 24/7 and teeth are shifting back.

[quote="TimSeattle"]I've been wearing my retainer about every other night for the last year, and every night before that. My teeth haven't shifted in 8 years[/quote]

Wow! That is impressive

My braces were removed 3 weeks ago and I have a permanent top and bottom retainer and I have the clear plastic for both. I was initially just told to wear them for 12 hours a piece but after complaining of my top two teeth hurting I was told to wear te too full time. I had an open bite and didn't want to have surgery so it's not peferdext by looks better. My top two teeth hurt every few days now. Has anyone else experienced this?

I would like to know how your teeth held since you had an overbite? I too had one and feel like about 2 months that it is coming back.

I'm doing the retainer thing and am concerned about the posterior open bite reopenning. Mine is definitely due to tongue thrust on the sides so we are doing an upper Hawley with tongue guards. Annoying has heck, but it will definitely prevent the tongue from causing the bite to open.

plugnickel69 wrote:I don't understand why more orthos don't use fixed retainers whenever possible to complement the removable ones.

I was thinking the same! I just got my braces removed on 5/24 and now I'm noticing small gaps between my bottom front, mostly small black triangles. I was given clear retainers and instructed to wear them only at night. I have a retention appointment on 6/24 so I will address a wrap around hawley to hopefully close those small and pesky gaps. I mean no one really notices them, but they bug the hell out of me!

Just keep wearing it and you will have nothing to worry about