OUCH!!!!

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#1 Post by **Jennifer** » Tue May 16, 2006 6:41 am

I am happy to say yesterday I got my braces removed. Here is my problem. They gave me a temporary retainer for my top teeth. It is a clear molding of my teeth that I just slip on over my top teeth. My problem is it is a pain getting the temporary retainer off to eat. Is there some secret into slipping that off my teeth without breaking a fingernail and going through alot of pain. I was told to take it out when I eat and brush. My next appointment is June 7th where I will get my permanent retainer. At this rate I am going to lose alot of weight because it is just to hard to remove the retainer.

#2 Post by **KittyW** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:14 pm

Hi Jennifer!

Congrats!

I got mine off yesterday too! I'm also wondering how in the heck I can get the upper plastic retainer out without feeling like all of my teeth are coming out with the retainer! It's as if it has suction power and won't let go! Freaked me out last night. I finally grabbed the back portion of the retainer on both sides with a terry cloth towel. One side seems tighter than the other.

Any tips out there? I get my upper Essix and lower Hawley on June 5th.

Kitty

#3 Post by **Jennifer** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:03 pm

Congratulations to you too kitty. How long did you have to wear your braces? I had mine for 2 1/2 yrs so it was great getting them removed. Permanent retainer on bottom and June 7th hawley on top. It sure was nice hearing that it just wasn't me having this problem. I never thought it would be so hard to get the retainer off so I never said anything to the orthodontist. Kind of funny they never brought it up.

So this must be normal....

..And your right I have looked to see where I can break the suction but it still is a heck of a chore... I try to be so careful when removing the retainer and all that happens is I break a sweat.

I am happy in how my teeth turned out . All I want to do is smile

But to anyone who has already gone through this is this the only way to take the retainer off or is there an easier way????????

#4 Post by **mtbrncofn** » Tue May 16, 2006 3:45 pm

If there's an easier way, I haven't found it. I remember in the office when I put the upper one on for the first time, I didn't think I was going to be able to get it off. They gave me no advice. They do get a little looser....little being the key word there.

My bottoms come off easy as pie, the top I have to work at getting off a bit, and it's been a month since I've had mine.

Best of luck gals, and congrats!

#5 Post by **payoki** » Wed May 17, 2006 12:17 pm

I wouldn't know coz I have a year left in my treatment but I was thinking would it be be odd things to say if I told you guys to try to streth it out? sometimes I do that with my new leather shoe, it it's too tight.^^
so if the retainer is a rubbery plastic maybe you can try to stretch it??
sorry I don't have smart solution...

#6 Post by **KittyW** » Wed May 17, 2006 2:54 pm

Unfortunately, mine is really hard, thin plastic, sort of the consistency of a plastic water or coke bottle. It fits the teeth perfectly and suctions on!

My upper is becoming a tad easier to yank out. My ortho warned me to be gentle because it can break easily if you tug too hard. The plastic is sort of brittle.

#7 Post by **jcdamon3** » Thu May 18, 2006 9:32 am

You may want to try posting on the invisalign forum.

Website · #8 Post by **alexa** » Thu May 18, 2006 11:11 am

I'm not sure if I am remembering this correctly, but I think there is a tool sold on http://www.dentakit.com that is used to help remove retainers that are hard to get out.

Once again, I'm not sure, but it may be worth checking out if you're having that much difficulty.

#9 Post by **KittyW** » Fri May 19, 2006 6:38 pm

Alexa, you're right! It looks like the ticket to pry these suckers off!

http://www.dentakit.com/rereto.html

Thanks!!!

Kitty