I wore braces for over a year, but got them off over 4 years ago. Since then I've supposed to have been wearing two retainers (top and bottom) at night. About 10 months ago I stopped wearing them, since I figured I probably didn't have to wear them at night my whole life and since I'd rarely missed my teeth would be fine. Lately I've noticed that my bottom teeth are a bit crooked again, and the retainers don't fit very well.
If I start wearing them again, will they straighten my teeth back? I don't have good dental insurance so I can't afford an orthodonist visit.
2006-07-05 15:56:48 · 8 answers · asked by Spartacus007 3 in Health ➔ Dental
It is possible that the retainers may help to realign your teeth back. But if your teeth have shifted too much, it may be too late for the retainer to get them back to where they need to be. I know you indicated that you don't have good dental insurance, but check with the orthodontist's office to see if any follow-up visits may still be covered by what you had already paid. It will probably be a whole lot cheaper to get the problem fixed now then to wait several years from now. Unfortunately the teeth will probably continue to shift. Try the retainers first. Your mouth will probably be a little sensitive while your teeth keep shifting. If you continue to go without your retainer, your teeth will keep shifting. All orthodontist should give brace wearers a big flashing sign of the importance of the retainers after the braces are removed. I sure hope that it's not too late and the retainer still fits to get your teeth realigned.
2006-07-05 17:53:18 · answer #1 · answered by winchamp 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I did the same thing - stopped wearing my top retainer too soon after the braces came off. Big mistake. You can try wearing your retainer - maybe your teeth haven't shifted way too much. Of course, just a little may be too much. I had so much trouble with mine. My retainer never did fit correctly afterwards - my top teeth shifted some.
2006-07-05 16:06:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
only 10 months.. it will probably be painful to wear them all night if they do work. Start slowly, maybe every other night and you should notice a difference in a few months. And dont do that again LOL I went about 6 months one time and they hurt when I put them on. Make sure you wear them at least once a week to avoid any drastic changes from occuring again.
2006-07-05 16:01:48 · answer #3 · answered by ChrissyLicious 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should have never stopped wearing them
but just try wearing them again and see what happens.
if they are still crooked, go to the dentist.
2006-07-05 16:01:45 · answer #4 · answered by x 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no u'll have to get braces again retainers only keep ur teeth straight
2006-07-05 16:00:07 · answer #5 · answered by apiepie 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I would go back to the orthodontist and see what they say.
2006-07-08 02:39:03 · answer #6 · answered by ~*á?¦Kileaá?¦*~ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no..the same thing happened to me and it just made my retainers crooked..it sucks i know
2006-07-05 16:01:29 · answer #7 · answered by Due 3/12/10 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
THEY MIGHT IT DEPENDS ON MESSED UP YOUR TEETH R
2006-07-05 15:59:07 · answer #8 · answered by Mz.Brown 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋