Q to Brits - nasty retainer - difficult to wear

[beanstix]

Dear All

I've had my upper brace removed - lower to be removed in about a month.

Ortho has given me this awful retainer to wear during evenings and at night - it's wire across the teeth with a nasty plastic section that fits into the roof of the mouth and makes me want to throw up as saliva collects in it.

I really hate wearing it, it's so uncomfortable. There was no discussion of choice of retainer.

Any advice, please, people?

[beanstix]

Thanks for the v.useful advice, Meryaten.

I suppose it must be a Hawley - ortho didn't mention the name. It's a pretty ugly object.

The plastic part doesn't rest comfortably against the roof of my mouth - (will mention it to ortho at next appt). Saliva collects inbetween. Nice.

Feels like a huge boiled sweet in my mouth. Thankfully I only have to wear evenings and at night and as I have a perm bonded retainer behind the upper front four teeth.

The rough spot idea, I will request.

Thanks again.

[beanstix]

Thanks, Meryaten, for posting those pics.

Mine looks sorta like that - but no funky colours. Wires that fit over the molars too.

Hey, I wish I had those colours, it would cheer things up a bit. Mine looks nasty because it's transparent.

Is that the face of a seal on the upper retainer. I can see eyes, nose and whiskers?

Do they make you sleep with your mouth open?

Cheers.

[beanstix]

ewwww. I don't have my lower one yet.

So, did you start off with one retainer and then have to wear an upgrade?

I guess the multi colours try and detract from the nastiness.

Blimey, years of braces and now a gob full of more metal.