Retainer

Question: retainer????? i got my braces off about 2 years ago now and only wore my retainer for about 9 months after i got them off. i've notice my bottom teeth are getting a little crooked and my two front teeth are pushing forward a little. i dont go to the orthodontist anymore and haven't since about the time i stopped wearing my retainer. when i tried to put my retainer in now it was really tight and hurt. what should i do?? can the reatiner even push back my teeth? will the tightness go away? i dont want to go back to the ortho again and spend 2,000 grand again on braces beacause a couple of my teeth are looking a little crooked.

Answer: If your retainers don't fit anymore, DO NOT JAM THEM BACK ON. Doing so might put excessive force on your teeth and traumatize their roots, and that might lead to bad things such as inflammatory root resorption. Go back to your orthodontist and discuss your options. The only way to straighten your teeth again is more orthodontic treatment. If you don't want to move your teeth anymore, then have the orthodontist make you a new retainer to fit the way your teeth currently are. And this time, you need to wear it as instructed to prevent the same problem from occurring.

Question: What kind of retainer do you have to wear after you get your braces off? I'm getting my braces off in a few weeks, and I was just wondering - what kind of retainer do you have to wear after? I have some friends who had to wear permanant retainers, while others wore some that they had to wear 24hr/day, and others who just wore an invisible one at night. Obviously, an invisible one just worn at night would be preferable. But I was wondering what kinds of retainers people wore immediately after getting braces off and for how long? Thanks!

Answer: I recently got my braces off. I wear a plastic one on the bottom, in looks like invisalign. the one on top fits in the roof of my mouth, has a silver wire that fits on my 6 front teeth. They are pretty comfortable. I only have to wear them all night, it keeps me from grinding my teeth, so thats a plus. I am also a dental assistant, and I would not recommend having a permanent retainer glued in. They are really hard to keep clean! Hope I helped!

Question: How can I make a temporary retainer for my bottom teeth? I've already had braces and everything but i lost my bottom retainer somehow and I don't want my teeth to move back. What can I use as a homemade retainer?

Answer: There's really nothing you can do yourself. Sorry, but you'll just have to break down and go back to your orthodontist.

Question: What's the difference between bottom fixed retainers vs a detached retainer? When my sister got her retainers, both top and bottom were detachable (meaning she could take them out at any time). My orthodonist told me that my bottom retainers will be fixed (meaning, I cannot remove them). They will look like braces except on the inside. My top retainers will be removable. What is the difference and why would I get a fixed retainer as opposed to a removable one?

Answer: A fixed retainer is used in cases where there is a good possibility the teeth will relapse or move. Or a case where the patient isn't very good at following instructions, if the orthodontist and parents don't feel like the patient will be very good at wearing their retainers. If you still have your wisdom teeth, it's probably a good idea to wear a fixed retainer until you get them out.

Question: Can a retainer that hurts shift your teeth after having braces off? My son, had his braces off today. The retainer he is wearing is hurting one of his eye teeth. Is there a chance that the retainer can shift this tooth? His orthodontist will not be back until Wednesday.

Answer: if the retainer hurts it means it doesn't fit correctly and is applying a lot of pressure to the tooth (unless the edge is digging into his gums or something like that). It could certainly move the tooth, but a correct retainer could move it back just as easily (and painfully). Its possible the orthodontist planned for the retainer to move the tooth into the right position even after taking the braces off

Question: How long do I have to wear a retainer after getting braces off? I am getting my braces off tomorrow, after only having them on for four months, and I've had a bottom retainer for a month now. And I am getting my top retainer tomorrow after they take off the braces. How long am I going to have to wear the retainer? They are Invisalign retainers.

Answer: People I know have to wear their retainer at nighttime only for the rest of their life.

Question: How long should I wear my retainer at night? I've been wearing my retainer 24/7 for the past year and my Orthodontist just told me I can go with only wearing it at night. And now if I leave it off for more than four hours, my front teeth move a tiny bit and it gets pretty tight when I put my retainer back on. My front teeth don't move much visibly, but is it okay that my retainer feels tight like this even though my orthodontist said I could go during the day without wearing it?

Answer: When your orthodontist says to wear it at night, he means all night. You're supposed to sleep with it in. Your retainer will feel tight when you put it in at night, but that's normal. Your teeth will shift a little. The goal is just to keep them from shifting so much that you ruin all that work. My teeth are perfectly straight, but I also know that there's no way I could even get my retainer in at this point.

Question: When I have to wear my retainer at night only, will gaps open during the day? I got my braces off about two weeks ago and had to go a week without a retainer. During this week, my gap between my two front teeth opened a bit. However, now I got my retainer and the gap closed again. So my question is, when I have to only wear my retainer at night, won't the gap open slightly during the day, then be shut only at night, therefore not helping my teeth create new memory?

Answer: No, by the time you are wearing it only at night, your teeth are in place, the retainer at night is enough to keep them there.

Question: What happens if you leave your retainers in retainer brite for too long? i left my invisible retainers in retainer brite accedentally for a few hours when im only supposed to keep it in a few minutes....is that bad?

Answer: I don't think its nothing to worry about but before you put the retainer back in your mouth make sure you rinse it well with water. Just don't make a habit of doing this with the retainer brite lol : )

Question: What kind of piercing retainer should I use to best hide an Earl/Bridge piercing? A week ago I got my bridge pierced and I start school again in another week. I was hoping to get a retainer or something to hide the piercing because we're not allowed to have facial piercings at school. What kind of retainer--size, length etc--should I use?

Answer: You really shouldn't be changing that piercing yet, you're only going to irritate it. When it's healed, then you should go with a quartz retainer, not plastic. Glasswear Studios make very good quality retainers. Something along the lines of the below link would probably be best, but as I said, you're really not going to do this piercing any favours by changing it so soon.

Question: How can you get rid of a retainer lisp? My best friend has a retainer and whenever she wears it shes got this really bad lisp? Is there anything she can do?

Answer: Talk, talk and talk! The mor eyou talk the more your mouth and tounge get use to the retainer and the more your lisp will go away. Good luck!

Question: How long after wearing braces is it neccesary to wear a retainer? My husband had his braces removed 9 years ago and was wearing a retainer since then. He recently lost his retainer, does he really still need it?

Answer: A retainer is needed especially on the lower due to the strength of the tongue, it has a tendency to push the teeth out of alignment even after many years of having orthodontic treatment completed. He may want to consider having a fixed retainer placed on the lower, just so he doesn't loose it again and for peace of mind. Although most orthodontist now prefer that their patients have a fixed retainer placed on the lowers as it eliminates "the loss of retainers," "movement or shifting of teeth" and it's "permanently fixed in the mouth." He probably should see his orthodontist or dentist to have it evaluated before too long, once they shift, a retainer can't really put them back. I'm sure he would hate to have to do ortho again. Good luck and hope I've been of some help.

Question: How do you make your retainer flavored? Is there any way to make a retainer flavored? I have a retainer and it tastes pretty nasty when it's in, is there any way I can make it flavored?

Answer: Soak it overnight in Scope or Listerine. There are some good flavors out now that will make it taste nice and minty. Also, occasionally soak it in denture cleanser like Efferdent to remove the debris that accumulates on it.

Question: What is the average cost of getting a retainer including visits? I am looking into getting a new orthodontist so I can get a new retainer, but I would like to know the approximate cost of getting one before i go to the office to avoid embarrasment.

Answer: A clear plastic one is about $50 A wire one is $75 But this is just at my ortho No idea what you mean about visits, though.

Question: What is the best way to keep a retainer clean? I have a new retainer from the orthodontist and I don't want it to get all that funky disgusting white buildup. How can I keep it clean?

Answer: Retainer Brite is great ! These effervescent cleaning tablets are great for clear Essix retainers and clear orthodontic Invisalign-type aligners, plastic and wire Hawley retainers and appliances, mouthguards, nightguards, bruxism appliances, and TMJ splints. A great cleaner to get rid of odor, dissolve old plaque buildup, and prevent new plaque buildup! You are left with clean, fresh-smelling appliances! Not recommended for appliances with metal solder points. • Helps remove plaque & tartar • Kills germs & bacteria • Cleans & brightens appliances • Keeps appliances minty fresh One year supply is 384 tablets, individually foil wrapped. Soaking bath is included. http://www.smileshop.com/orstore/showitem.aspx?productID=RB-368C

Question: How do I keep my retainer clean? I just got my retainer a couple weeks ago, and I was told nothing about keeping them clean. I only have to wear them at night, and I read they should be soaked in cold water or denture cleaners when not in use. However, all the answers I've seen have been geared towards people who need to wear the retainer all the time. Is it safe to keep it soaked while not in use (which can be more then 14 hours), or should I just brush them when I brush my teeth like constant users would?

Answer: Mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda with 4 teaspoons of lemon juice. Put the retainer into the mixture. When all the bubbles are disappeared, you can rinse it off with tab water. Then air-dry and put it back to the container.

Question: How long should I wear a permanent retainer? When I was in high school, I wore braces for two years. Since the braces have been removed, I've had a permanent bottom retainer on for 15 years. Last year the lingual bar (the metal bar that is behind the teeth) broke off as I bit into an apple. I don't have dental insurance. Should I have them removed? CAN they be removed?

Answer: The same thing recently happened to a family member of mine. Yes, it can be removed. However, if you don't replace it your teeth may shift. You should go to your dentist and get it removed right away, and replace it ASAP. good luck! :)

Question: How much does just getting a hawley retainer cost? My daughter has a tooth slightly crooked and her dentist said she should get a hawley retainer. I want to know how much they cost please. I asked the dentist and she said she did not know because she was not an orthodontist. Please help, thanks.

Answer: You can easily check your minimal health care rates in internet, for example here - health-quotes.talk4fun.net

Question: How long can I go without my retainer until my teeth shift back? I'm on vacation and I lost my retainer. It's been three days so far and since I'm kind of paranoid, I think it's shifting slightly. I get back home in 8 more days to get a replacement but I'm so worried! Will my teeth move back by then or will it shift? I really don't want braces again!

Answer: After I got my braces off I never wore my retainer and my teeth never shifted. It's different for everyone. You should be fine over that short span of time. There is no use ruining you vacation worrying about it.

Question: How do you get comfortable talking with a retainer? I just got my retainer yesterday and I was wondering if anyone knew how to get comfortable talking again. I can't even say my name right Dx I mesh up eberyting I try to shay Dx help!

Answer: Your mouth doesn't understand what the retainer is at the moment and is reacting as if it were a piece of food. After a while of wearing it, your mouth will realize that your retainer is not a piece of food. While your speech capabilities aren't going to be up to par while the retainer is in your mouth, you will be able to speak a little better after prolonged usage.