I had braces put on about three years ago, and wore them for about 16 months. When they came off i had retainers, and wore them all the time, except when eating. Almost exactly a year after i went back to the orthadontist and he told me to start wearing them every other night until i no longer needed them, or to wait until i was ready, and took me off the list - my treatment was over. It didn't work right away so i carred on wearing them, and wore them for another seven months (but i was more free than before, to try and ween myself off of them) before i had to stop altogether. Now though it feels like my teeth are going back to how they were. I did everything i was supposed to. If they go back all the way it will be a complete waste of three years, but although there's obviously a slight difference, other people say i'm just paranoid. Is it likely they'll relapse completely?
2006-08-08 09:29:42 · 7 answers · asked by billie 2 in Health ➔ Dental
I get what you're saying, but i'm off the list now. And my retainers won't fit anymore.
2006-08-08 10:07:51 · update #1
Go back to your dentist then, they'll know what to do!
2006-08-08 09:42:17 · answer #1 · answered by Mickenoss 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh my goodness, this is happening to me! It stinks totally. I had braces for 2 years and wore my retainer faithfully just like my dentist said. I went back to the dentist... and now I have to get braces again for 2 years. My jr. and sr. year in high school. Just make sure to put on your retainer every so often and if its tight at all start wearing it the next couple of nights. I was thinking that maybe I could get an invisiline of my teeth and use that as a retainer? ...after I get the braces again. Because that way I could wear it even as an adult some times and it wouldnt show. Anyway I hope it works out.
2006-08-10 14:30:56 · answer #2 · answered by A* 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They shouldn't have a list. That's ridiculous. They should have told you that if your retainer started feeling tight to wear it more. 16 months doesn't sound like enough time either. You need to call them and tell them that your retainer doesn't fit and that you need a new one. If they won't let you in (which would also be ridiculous) then you need to transfer over to an orthodontist who actually cares about his/her patients and get an impression for a new retainer there. If your teeth have rotated at all they should be able to add springs to your retainer to correct them. There is no reason why your Ortho shouldn't get you in and take care of this problem. Everyone is different but most people will be in retainers for pretty much ever because your teeth are always wanting to move. Some people are lucky and they don't have movement but most people will pretty much always need their retainers. With the next one you get, you gage your wear depending on how tight your retainer is. If you leave it out for a couple of nights and then you notice it's tight, start wearing it more. And as long as you have a retainer your Ortho should be happy to see you and to check it if your having problems. We have patients whose charts we don't have anymore because it's been 10 or more years since we've seen them and we will still see them if they are having a problem or even if they just want to be checked!
And by the way, we don't charge our patients for this type of visit. Some people are so production oriented. Paying for the new reatainer is understandable but I feel like you shouldn't have to since your orthodintist implied that you could stop wearing it completely. This is ridiculous.
2006-08-08 13:23:58 · answer #3 · answered by Chapstick 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have worked in orthodontics for over 23 years, and i would say no, they will not relapse completly. You didnt mention your age, if you had extractions, or if your wisdom teeth were comming in.Or what kind of retainers you had. Even though you are no longer an active patient now you should make a recall appt (which you can expect to be charged for). and talk to your dentist about your concerns, many times making a different kind of retainer that can be adjusted to move certain teeth will be sufficient.
In worse case serieno- your braces were removed prematurely before everything had settled so to speak or your braces were taken off without any concern with root placement. And then their are some whose teeth move as they get older from grinding, tissue loss, etc.. Its not uncommon for some to have to wear braces again. hope this help,,talk to your dentist, if your not sure about him go to another.
2006-08-08 10:28:06 · answer #4 · answered by Hollywood 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start wearing your retainer again, or if you don't have it anymore go back and see your orthodontist, who will probably have your models there and be able to make you a new one.
2006-08-08 09:36:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get in touch with your orthodontist and explain what has happened they might fit you a permanent retainer which is a wire behind your teeth to keep them in line not visable.Ask your dentist to re refer you .
2006-08-12 05:59:30 · answer #6 · answered by organise my funeral a big un 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would go back to the dentist as these could be too Small now as your mouth changes
2006-08-08 10:12:53 · answer #7 · answered by munchie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋