Re: How long to make a retainer? For Jane

[Guest guest]

Jane, to make my acryllic retainers, they did indeed make a mold,

just after the braces were removed and my teeth were cleaned of the

cement. (They may also make one for the purposes of their records; I

dunno.)

I also don't know whether they have to make one for the permanent

retainers, which I have never worn. I wouldn't think so, but what do

I know? I know Fiddlesticks has those, so she can probably clue

us in.

From what I was told, they take the model of the arch, put a sheet of

acryllic over it, then apply a combination of heat and vacuum

pressure to model it to the shape of your teeth. It fits very snugly,

and sort of snaps on; they should be cleaned with a brush each time

you take them out, and there is some fizzy stuff (I think it's

probably like Polident) that can be used as a soak, too, that's nice.

(Funny thing: the tech warned me not to use a blue fizzy denture

cleaner, as she said it would stain the retainer. I believed

completely, having used solid, colored containers to soak -- then one

day I was away from home, and used a clear container. Guess what

color the retainer-cleaning fizzy stuff is, when dissolved. Blue!)

As for cleaning, if you can clean around braces, and a wired mouth, I

think you can clean around anything they put in your mouth! You can

use those little proxabrushes, I think, and the glide threaders. It's

more of a nuisance than something removable, and for that reason, I'm

glad I don't have the permanent wires. But if my ortho had wanted

them, I'd have used them.

I, too, apparently am destined for a life-long friendship with my

retainers. I'm still wearing them more of the time than not, as my

bite is more comfortable with than without them.

Cammie

>

> Cammie,

> Do they have to take another mold of your teeth or how do they make

> the retainer? I am having a permenant retainer cemented to my

bottom

> teeth and one that I have to wear at night only )for the rest of my

> life) for my top teeth. I really want the permanent retainer to

keep

> things from moving but worry because my bottom teeth are the hardest

> to clean due to plaque buildup there. I use a hook thingy to scrape

> and floss every night, how will I be able to do this without it

coming

> off? Thanls for your input.

>

> Jane