Tonsils out and Hawley Retainer

If you have finished with your orthodontic treatment and are wearing retainers (or will be soon), this is a special place to connect with others in your (enviable) situation. Ask a question or make a comment about life post-braces.

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BracedSurgeryStudent
Posts: 1091
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:02 pm
Location: Dartmouth Massachusetts
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Tonsils out and Hawley Retainer

#1 Post by BracedSurgeryStudent »

So I finally have the balls to get my tonsils out, as a kid and a teenager I was too afraid of either dying or having my singing voice change, I sing opera. So I got a new primary care Physician and went to her yesterday and told me that's probably why I'm throwing up with a Hawley retainer. So my question is since I finally want them out, and have the balls to get them out: What am I going to do for the three weeks straight post op from getting them out with my hawley retainer? I've only gotten my braces off in May. Because I know I cannot wear the retainer.
Jenn Medeiros

opera^gal
Posts: 650
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:10 pm
Location: NYC

Re: Tonsils out and Hawley Retainer

#2 Post by opera^gal »

No worries about your voice changing, as no one is operating on your vocal folds. Do tell your anesthesiologist that you are a singer and ask them to be extra careful placing any tube into your trachea. I had my tonsillectomy mid-career and was wearing a hawley at night for bruxism issues. I had no trouble with the surgery nor wearing the retainer post-op. Good luck!
2/2/09: metal braces T/B
8/20/10: braced removed (18mons, 18days), hawley retainers T/B
9/16/10: LR central incisor extracted (failed root canal)
2/23/11: implant/bone graft
9/15/11: implant crown placed, lower lingual bonding corrected
9/21/11: upper bonding on lateral gaps from upper arch forward advancement
10/17/11: new hawley retainers w/plastic tubing over the 'social six' wire, both T/B

BracedSurgeryStudent
Posts: 1091
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:02 pm
Location: Dartmouth Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Tonsils out and Hawley Retainer

#3 Post by BracedSurgeryStudent »

Thanks so much were you able to put it in the same night or did you wait a day or two? Come to think of it it will probably feel better and really hollow in there when I put in the retainer :) Should I mention it to my orthodontist at all?
Jenn Medeiros

opera^gal
Posts: 650
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:10 pm
Location: NYC

Re: Tonsils out and Hawley Retainer

#4 Post by opera^gal »

Always good to keep your ortho in the loop. I think it was a day or two post-surgery before I resumed retainer wear, but at that time, mine wasn't for retention purposes.
2/2/09: metal braces T/B
8/20/10: braced removed (18mons, 18days), hawley retainers T/B
9/16/10: LR central incisor extracted (failed root canal)
2/23/11: implant/bone graft
9/15/11: implant crown placed, lower lingual bonding corrected
9/21/11: upper bonding on lateral gaps from upper arch forward advancement
10/17/11: new hawley retainers w/plastic tubing over the 'social six' wire, both T/B

BracedSurgeryStudent
Posts: 1091
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:02 pm
Location: Dartmouth Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Tonsils out and Hawley Retainer

#5 Post by BracedSurgeryStudent »

Hey good news, she told me since I get so sick with them and having a job now, she told me I could wear my retainers at night instead of 24/7 and then when I told her about getting them out I said I might not be able to wear the retainers a few days to a week after the surgery she said it was fine but I might have to jam the retainers back on haha and if I needed help getting them back on I could go in and she could fix em :)
Jenn Medeiros

TMJJill
Posts: 827
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:18 pm

Re: Tonsils out and Hawley Retainer

#6 Post by TMJJill »

I know you worry. Your ortho has been super great to you though.

Good luck with the surgery.
Image

Braces as Phase II treatment for TMJD.
Lower mandibular repositioning splint 26 months.
Lower braces on 10.75 months into Phase II treatment.
Duration in braces: 2 years, 2 weeks, 5 days
Removal of Braces: September 18, 2013

TMJD treatment now complete!

BracedSurgeryStudent
Posts: 1091
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:02 pm
Location: Dartmouth Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Tonsils out and Hawley Retainer

#7 Post by BracedSurgeryStudent »

Thanks I have a consult on August 23rd
Jenn Medeiros

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