Permanent Retainers

Smythe

I was reading here:
http://www.archwired.com/6-_come_off.htm

that after having braces removed, you have to wear a retainer for a certain length of time, and then you can continue to wear it at night time after this. It appears that the teeth may shift again if the retainer is not worn.

Though you'll also notice in the link there's a permanent retainer. It seems a good idea in that you don't have to keep removing and placing back the retainer on an ongoing basis. I presume you just have the permanent retainer set in place by the orthodontist.

Does anyone have any opinions on permanent retainers as opposed to temporary retainers? Are there any problems associated with a permanent retainer for an adult? Do you have to go back to the orthodontist every few years to have the permanent retainer checked?

Thank you!

Azureus

I havent got my retainer yet, but my orthodontist said that he is definately putting in a permanent one at the back of my teeth when my ortho is finished, and that it will just be checked at regular dentist checkups, no extra appointments with him would be needed.
That said, I havent got it yet so Im not sure exactly how it will pan out...

Smythe

Azureus wrote: »

my orthodontist said that he is definately putting in a permanent one at the back of my teeth

Is that for upper only?

Apparently permanent retainers on the lower attract a lot of plaque.

cassiedoll

hi, im 29 and got braces on 4 years ago. Had them on for 3 years and obviously off a year.

i had to wear a retainer everyday for 6 months. After a while the lisp goes and then it was reduced to only wear it when your going to bed. When i went back for a six month check up, i was fitted with permanent retainers on the back of top and bottom teeth and i was told that they would be there forever.

If you have to get fitted permanent retainers...its a very thin wire that is bonded to your teeth...you can't feel it and doesn't give you a lisp or anything..

i now only have to wear the other retainer 2 or 3 times a week...but with the permanent retainer i still need to use superfloss...which is a pain but hey ive spent so much money getting my teeth fixed, its a small price to pay

Smythe

cassiedoll wrote: »

i still need to use superfloss...

What's superfloss?

cassiedoll

i started using superfloss after about a year and a half with braces but when u have the fitted retainer on the back of your teeth, u cant use normal floss...so hence the superfloss

Smythe

cassiedoll wrote: »

i started using superfloss after about a year and a half with braces but when u have the fitted retainer on the back of your teeth, u cant use normal floss...so hence the superfloss

Thanks for that

offaly1

got braces when i was bout eleven (coming 29 this year) had the braces for bout 2 years and a retainer for a bit too. was fitted with a permo retainer when was bout 14ish on lower teeth,never ever in that length of time had i any problems! thank jeebus...