What type of retainer did your child getting after braces removed?

[linnylu]

My dd got her braces off 6 weeks ago. She was given 2, removable, clear plastic retainers and told to wear them at night. They are custom molded for her teeth. Last week she had to have a chipped tooth fixed at the dentist and they told her to bring her retainers. When my daughter gave them the retainers the hygienist thought they were invisaline braces. The dentist then came in and said they reminded her of the teeth whitening trays that they used and she was worried about them lasting.

Of course having the chipped tooth (from a previous bike accident) repaired, the upper retainer doesn't fit anymore, and we will have to get a new one.
All I know is that we were told by the ortho to have them replaced it would be $300 per retainer. The first set was included in the price of the braces.

Anyway, I was just wondering what type of retainer your child got after having their braces removed?

 

[Lintasare]

For my top teeth I had a clear plastic one. I had two, a thin one for day wear and a thick one for night wear. On my bottom teeth I have a permanent wire glued to the front 6.

 

[mom2maggie]

That's really strange that they were unfamiliar with them, because they had the clear type of retainers when *I* had braces, and that was back in 1993.

 

[kacaju]

clear just like you have

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS16 has the same kind of retainers. He grinds his teeth at night, and after about a year, wore a hole in the top retainer. The ortho replaced it free of charge.

 

[scrapquitler]

My dd got her braces off 6 weeks ago. She was given 2, removable, clear plastic retainers and told to wear them at night. They are custom molded for her teeth. Last week she had to have a chipped tooth fixed at the dentist and they told her to bring her retainers. When my daughter gave them the retainers the hygienist thought they were invisaline braces. The dentist then came in and said they reminded her of the teeth whitening trays that they used and she was worried about them lasting.

Of course having the chipped tooth (from a previous bike accident) repaired, the upper retainer doesn't fit anymore, and we will have to get a new one.
All I know is that we were told by the ortho to have them replaced it would be $300 per retainer. The first set was included in the price of the braces.

Anyway, I was just wondering what type of retainer your child got after having their braces removed?

On the bottom, my DD has a wire permanently attached to the back of the front teeth (maybe 6 teeth?))

On the top, she has the same type I had when I was a teenager: a plastic part that molds to the top of her mouth (it's green, she had a choice of color) with a wire that goes around the outside of the front teeth.

 

[Mandychelle79]

I had the clear plastic one, I had a dual one to try to force my jaw into place, I had a permanent one across the back of my bottom teeth that they took off because it kept breaking and finally I had the one with the wire across it.

 

[maui13]

My daughter has a bottom and top plastic type retainer. She chose rainbow color. Not soft like the teeth whitening trays. But plastic.

 

[Cindy B]

Both my kids got thier braces off recently. They both have the plastic kind with the wires in the front. They weren't clear or even pink (mine was pinkish colored-back in 1984!)

My kids could pick their own color for the plastic part. My sons is flesh colored and my daughter picked blue sparkle!

I asked about permanent retainers. The ortho does not like to do them because of various reasons-if you sustain damage (sports or otherwise), get extensive dental work-bridges and crowns-, and in some cases- these patients are out at college and the retainer becomes loose or comes off- they don't get to the ortho until they come home and there is a gap in treatment.

We do get charged $150 if they lose it. If there is an issue with it not fitting, they will adjust it or reshape.

 

[Christine]

My daughter got two plastic ones. I don't feel that they hold the teeth well.

With my son, I insisted on a permanent one for the bottom and the clear plastic on the top. It is MUCH better for keeping the teeth from shifting.

 

[linnylu]

Sorry for the crazy wording of the title I guess they both were more surprised at how thin the plastic was. My older son has a plastic one on top, but I think it's thicker plastic. He has the permanent wire on the bottom, but our dentist also doesn't like that type for a number of reasons. Plus ds already broke it once.

My D does grind her teeth so that might be why they gave her 2 plastic ones instead of plastic upper and wire bottom. My oldest (age 19) has the 2 removable retainers with wire across the front of the teeth.

I have no clue what to tell the ortho we want when we go back tomorrow, but I want something that will last a long time so her teeth don't shift.

Has the ortho ever told you how long a retainer should be worn? A dentist friend of mine said that they should even wear them occasionally in their late 20s.

 

[rszdtrvl]

That's really strange that they were unfamiliar with them, because they had the clear type of retainers when *I* had braces, and that was back in 1993.

I had the same too. In fact, they lasted for a really long time, until I asked my dentist for a referral to get a new retainer.

From those bulky upper/bottom clear retainers I went to a tiny bottom only spring retainer. Much better!

Of course, my braces had been off for 12+ years already.

 

[rszdtrvl]

I asked about permanent retainers. The ortho does not like to do them because of various reasons-if you sustain damage (sports or otherwise), get extensive dental work-bridges and crowns-, and in some cases- these patients are out at college and the retainer becomes loose or comes off- they don't get to the ortho until they come home and there is a gap in treatment.
QUOTE]

I also asked about a permanent retainer, but since I am not a flosser (yes, I know I need to floss on a regular basis) the dental hygenist & dentist said that a spring retainer is a better choice because it is removable. It is teeny though! Which is a plus.

 

[Christine]

Has the ortho ever told you how long a retainer should be worn? A dentist friend of mine said that they should even wear them occasionally in their late 20s.

My coworker is 30 and still has her permanent bottom one in.

 

[padams]

Warning- if your child has the clear, plastic ones, the teeth can shift. Ds' teeth were perfect when his braces came off. He was good about wearing the retainers but the top teeth moved anyway. The ortho said it happens.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd is getting the wire one on the top for sure because she will have 2 teeth attached to it. Not sure about the bottom.

I did ask about a permanent retainer and they said no because of some reason I cannot recall.

 

[Fire14]

I had wire in front pink part for top/ perm glued to back of bottom 6 teeth. My brother had clear molded one for top and not sure if he had bottom.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I have hawley retainers - the ones with pink plastic that is molded to the shape of the top or bottom of your month, then the wire that connects and goes in front of the teeth. I still wear them most nights. I did braces as an adult and my case was quite severe so the ortho said I must wear retainers for life, which is fine by me. I got my braces off 5 years ago.

I was suppose to get a wire placed on the backs of my front 6 teeth, but the ortho seemed to forget he ever said that. I didn't want pernament wires anyway so I was fine with that.

I will be job hunting soon so I am so glad I now have a nice normal smile to show when I get into interviews!

 

[OceanAnnie]

My DS had a wire retainer. Grinded teeth really bad. Got the clear plastic mouth guard from the dentist for $150 bucks. Had a bout of strep. Couldn't get it sterilized. So I was set to get another for $150 bucks. Couldn't get an appointment for months. Weeks for a mid-day appointment where he'd miss school. First time we have had that problem. Yet the grinding needed to be addressed.

Then I looked into getting one at the drugstore. First one I bought didn't work out. He didn't like it. Fit funny. The second set did. I got two in a package for less than $20. His has a bluish tint. One for now and one for later. You put the mouth guard in warm water then have your child adjust it and bite down on it. The impression was great. Fit great. Great to have on hand. If you don't go that route permanently, it is good for a back up. I was lucky they couldn't see me right away. It has worked out well for us.

 

[luvdzny]

Both of my kids have the permanent wire retainer on top & bottom teeth. DS is 28 and DD is 21. Neither one has any problems with them and as far as I know they never come off.