Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 Hello, I had surgery in May and should have my braces off by November or December.. My orthodontist and I have always talked about total treatment time being about two years (16 months in braces before surgery, 6 months after surgery) but haven't really talked about retainers that come afterwards. What is the average amount of time that you are supposed to wear retainers 24/7 ? Is it around 3 months? I won't mind having to wear them just at night, it's just the all day part I don't want to do, however I know of course they play a hugely important role in keeping things how they are. Also, is there a specific type of retainer that is most commonly used now, like the clear retainers, or do you think it really depends on the orthodontist and which kind he favours? Would it also depend on what kind of surgery/treatment you had that would determine the type of retainer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 I had my braces off in April. My orthodontist made me a clear retainer to wear while my metal one was being made. In the less than two weeks that I wore it, it started to open my previously surgically closed open bite back up. I wear my metal one (with butterflies and glitter!) 24 hours a day for six months. After that, I wear it nightly forever and ever amen. I guess that everyone is different, but I know that if I go even a few hours with my retainer off, my teeth start to shift. I don't play around with that. I went through way too much to have relapse. After a while, you get used to the metal retainer. You can always take it for very special occasions. Good luck! > Hello, > > I had surgery in May and should have my braces off by November or > December.. My orthodontist and I have always talked about total > treatment time being about two years (16 months in braces before > surgery, 6 months after surgery) but haven't really talked about > retainers that come afterwards. > > What is the average amount of time that you are supposed to wear > retainers 24/7 ? Is it around 3 months? I won't mind having to wear > them just at night, it's just the all day part I don't want to do, > however I know of course they play a hugely important role in > keeping things how they are. > > Also, is there a specific type of retainer that is most commonly > used now, like the clear retainers, or do you think it really > depends on the orthodontist and which kind he favours? Would it > also depend on what kind of surgery/treatment you had that would > determine the type of retainer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 I had upper/lower/genio almost 2 years ago. I had a removeable upper retainer and a fixed lower wire retainer. The ortho said I'd need to wear the upper retainer " when you're not at work " and " probably forever " . I wore it as much as possible, even at work. But I still had one upper tooth that didn't want to stay in place. So a few months ago, he installed a fixed wire upper. Very stable. One person in my office had jaw surgery when she was 16 (she's no longer with our company, but was probably about 24 or 26 at the time I spoke with her). She only had a lower retainer (I'm not sure exactly what surgery she had, maybe only lower) and said she thinks she could probably have it taken out, but that it didn't bother her at all, and that she'd probably leave it in. I'm for that. These wire retainers can stay in forever. They don't bother me, they are a reminder that I need to maintain good dental hygiene (which I was bad at prior to this whole process), and nobody can tell they are there. I'm just suggesting that you follow your ortho's instructions on how long to wear them faithfully (maybe even more), self-monitor any changes in your teeth movements and let your ortho know if things change, and don't expect to be out of them in a hurry. Hope that helps, > Hello, > > I had surgery in May and should have my braces off by November or > December.. My orthodontist and I have always talked about total > treatment time being about two years (16 months in braces before > surgery, 6 months after surgery) but haven't really talked about > retainers that come afterwards. > > What is the average amount of time that you are supposed to wear > retainers 24/7 ? Is it around 3 months? I won't mind having to wear > them just at night, it's just the all day part I don't want to do, > however I know of course they play a hugely important role in > keeping things how they are. > > Also, is there a specific type of retainer that is most commonly > used now, like the clear retainers, or do you think it really > depends on the orthodontist and which kind he favours? Would it > also depend on what kind of surgery/treatment you had that would > determine the type of retainer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 4, 2004 Report Share Posted July 4, 2004 I'm thinking that for me, it's forever after... And that's better than reliving any part of the orthodontic/orthognathic experience yet again.... I have the clear, acryllic ones. What kind do I want? I wasn't given options. But what I want is the kind my ortho thinks will work the best, which is what he handed me. And what I use 24/7... except for eating. C. > Hello, > > I had surgery in May and should have my braces off by November or > December.. My orthodontist and I have always talked about total > treatment time being about two years (16 months in braces before > surgery, 6 months after surgery) but haven't really talked about > retainers that come afterwards. > > What is the average amount of time that you are supposed to wear > retainers 24/7 ? Is it around 3 months? I won't mind having to wear > them just at night, it's just the all day part I don't want to do, > however I know of course they play a hugely important role in > keeping things how they are. > > Also, is there a specific type of retainer that is most commonly > used now, like the clear retainers, or do you think it really > depends on the orthodontist and which kind he favours? Would it > also depend on what kind of surgery/treatment you had that would > determine the type of retainer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 , My question is for you because I am suppose to get a fixed retainer on the bottom after all of this is over with. What is it like? Does it go on every tooth? How do you floss? How is the upper? Did it affect your speech? Does food get caught in it? Sorry to bombarge you with Q's but I am very interested.-Nicki > > Hello, > > > > I had surgery in May and should have my braces off by November or > > December.. My orthodontist and I have always talked about total > > treatment time being about two years (16 months in braces before > > surgery, 6 months after surgery) but haven't really talked about > > retainers that come afterwards. > > > > What is the average amount of time that you are supposed to wear > > retainers 24/7 ? Is it around 3 months? I won't mind having to wear > > them just at night, it's just the all day part I don't want to do, > > however I know of course they play a hugely important role in > > keeping things how they are. > > > > Also, is there a specific type of retainer that is most commonly > > used now, like the clear retainers, or do you think it really > > depends on the orthodontist and which kind he favours? Would it > > also depend on what kind of surgery/treatment you had that would > > determine the type of retainer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Hello! All understandable questions as this is the final part of the process and the last part of the " unknown " . Like my old pal , my retainer situation is similar. I had surgery 1.5 years ago and had my braces off 1 year ago. I have a permanent " behind the teeth " retainer on the lower and a traditional removable retainer for the top. I was told to wear the upper retainer " while you are at home " , approximately 16 hours a day. That lasted for a year. Then I was just told at my last appointment with my ortho that it was ok to just wear it at night, but basically that will last forever. I find at the end of the day that my upper retainer is " tighter " than it is in the morning. Some evenings I actually have a difficult time putting it in. It is obvious that it is needed to keep things in place. To answer your question as to what the lower permanent retainer is like, it is installed similarly to how braces are ... the dental tech will basically " glue " the wire behind your teeth. My thin wire goes across the 6 middle lower teeth. To floss, you will need a threader, which you can buy pretty much at drug stores or grocery stores. You probably are using a threader now to floss around your braces. Good luck to you! Irish! > > > Hello, > > > > > > I had surgery in May and should have my braces off by November > or > > > December.. My orthodontist and I have always talked about total > > > treatment time being about two years (16 months in braces before > > > surgery, 6 months after surgery) but haven't really talked about > > > retainers that come afterwards. > > > > > > What is the average amount of time that you are supposed to wear > > > retainers 24/7 ? Is it around 3 months? I won't mind having to > wear > > > them just at night, it's just the all day part I don't want to > do, > > > however I know of course they play a hugely important role in > > > keeping things how they are. > > > > > > Also, is there a specific type of retainer that is most commonly > > > used now, like the clear retainers, or do you think it really > > > depends on the orthodontist and which kind he favours? Would it > > > also depend on what kind of surgery/treatment you had that would > > > determine the type of retainer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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