2nd time, permanent top retainer?

[Jenikay8]

I'm 38 and this is my 2nd time in braces. My first time was over 20 years ago, I had them on for 3 years. About 2 years after removal my wisdom teeth came in and shoved everything around and I no longer had insurance or money to deal with it then.

This time my Ortho said that he will put a permanent retainer on bottom AND top teeth even though top is not often done. He said this because of the way my teeth shifted. Has anyone gotten a top permanent retainer?

[pcspinheiro]

I will end with an overjet (my choice as I could not care less about perfect teeth) and have asked for both retainers to be permanent as I cannot bother to keep using a removable one. Well, that is if I get retainers at all, so unhappy with all this that I may just not wear any and let things be...

So it is possible, I guess not usual due to chances of ripping the top off?

[Jenikay8]

Yes, I guess people bite them off more easily because the bottom teeth hit it. But right now there's a fair amount of space, not a huge over bite, but enough space. Hopefully it's not a disaster.

[jem]

I have had an upper bonded retainer for nearly 5 years and it has never been a problem. I do not have a very deep bite so my bottom teeth do not touch it. I also wear a removable retainer at night.

Good luck with yours!

Jem

[Jenikay8]

Glad to hear you've had success! Do you wear the removable retainer over it?

[jem]

Yes. My ortho fitted the bonded retainer, then removed my brackets, then took impressions . I had one impression for records, one for the standard essix retainer and one for the additional hawley I requested.