Metal Mouth Message Board

I'm not out of my braces yet, but just found out that i'm invited to a wedding that will take place a month after my braces are due to come off. Now my question is - do you think i could take my retainer out for duration of wedding, which i assume would be like 10 hours or so, without my teeth shifting back?

You've worked so hard and waited for so long to get here...don't botch it up. I was at my ortho adjustment today and he questioned if he needed to do IPR on the teeth that still need rotation. As it turned out, he didnt need to because after the ligs were all taken off...somehow, my teeth shifted allowing tiny gaps for those teeth. However, this is a question best addressed to your ortho as he can best answer you.

Not wearing your retainer for 10 hours is not going to cause any serious issues...you should be fine. I would wear them full time in the days leading to and after the wedding.

It becomes an issue when the 10 hours leads to 15 then 20 then you just decide not to wear them anymore.

I don't attend many weddings but 10 hours?? Is that your guess for the all day affair? How about just taking them off for the ceremony and the reception?

hehe thank you snowglobe32 I was estimating time out of retainers - glad to hear it shouldn't make a difference. After reading through quite a few posts under this section, I am thinking of asking for a bonded retainer along with my removable, so I think that should help too.

I'm no Ortho, but I don't see why not.

I'm still in my braces and not an orthodontist... but I would just try and wear the retainer. I went 27 years with teeth that weren't to my liking. I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the success of the treatment.

[quote=I was estimating time out of retainers - glad to hear it shouldn't make a difference. After reading through quite a few posts under this section, I am thinking of asking for a bonded retainer along with my removable, so I think that should help too.[/quote]

I am a fan of bonded retainers and I do not find them a hassle other than flossing. As to taking them out for the wedding, you are over-thinking this whole thing. Just go to the wedding and have fun. Don't wear the retainers if you don't want to; wear them part-time if it allays your fears about shifting, but go and have fun! Your teeth will be fine.

I had to wear mine 10 hours a day the first 6 months... I chose to wear mine at night. Were you told to wear them 24 hours a day? I have been braces free for 5 years and I still wear my retainers 4-5 times a week. It keeps everything in place.