I used to have braces and am supposed to wear my retainer till im 18. I havent worn it in a few months. I know, I know its bad. I dont know whether I should slowly wear it and move them back to their original place or just leave it? Do you think that I will hurt my teeth my trying to move them? Help!! Thanks
2006-11-10 10:17:37 · 6 answers · asked by yahwooo 1 in Health ➔ Dental
I make retainers and other prostheses for a living. Please wear your retainer. A lot of hard work goes into making them. Even if you only wear it at night, make sure you wear it every day. When you don't wear it, keep it wet with water or Listerine. Listen, my dad has worn braces three times in his life because he wouldn't wear his retainer. Now he has a permanent one, and so do I. Permanent retainers are just a wire cemented to the tongue side of your teeth, and they don't get in the way. Just be sure to floss!
2006-11-10 10:58:54 · answer #1 · answered by albetros3 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Save yourself $4,000 and try to get your retainer back in. I didn't wear mine as a teen and now I am back in braces at 27 and at my own expense. I have to wear these embarrassing elastics all over again. If it doesn't fit easy, visit your orthodontist and have them adjust it to keep the teeth where they are now from moving.
2006-11-10 18:29:40 · answer #2 · answered by Andrea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
PUT IT BACK IN!!!! I had a built-in retainer that fell out and I never had it fixed. Now its 5 years later and my teeth are back to where they were b4 I had braces. Its probably going to hurt, but you really should start wearing it again.
2006-11-10 18:23:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sat next to a dentist on an airplane. One thing he left me with was "TEETH DO NOT HAVE MEMORY" the roots will go right back to where they were located. You need a new one, go and get the molds done and save your teeth. Otherwise, you'll have braces again.
2006-11-10 18:26:50 · answer #4 · answered by Promoqueen in CA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Back in my mom's day, she had her teeth pulled so there was room and her teeth didn't really migrate back to where they were. Your best bet would be to talk to your ortho and see if he thinks that your old retainer is fine or if you should have a new one made.
2006-11-10 19:39:07 · answer #5 · answered by darkgat0 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would at least start by wearing it at night. If you let it go and they move back to their original positions, that will be a lot of money and effort (and sore mouth) that was wasted.
2006-11-10 22:54:09 · answer #6 · answered by Indigo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋