permanent bonded retainer?

[josie]

Hi -

It's a long time till I have my braces off, seeing they only went on last week

But my ortho has suggested that, at the end of treatment, I would need to have firstly a removable retainer which I wear day and night for a period of time (6 months?) and then at night only for a further period (6 months?).

After this, he is suggesting I have a fixed permanent retainer behind my upper and lower front teeth. He says that these teeth are the most likely to move, and probably the first to move.

However, I don't like the idea of having something permanently in my mouth forever more which is not part of me. I'd be happy to wear my removable retainer at night a few nights a week forever more, though. (Obviously I know it would wear out and I'd need to get another one at some point.) He seemed to think this would be ok, too.

What are your responses to my idea, does it sound ok? Is it better to have a fixed retainer forever more, or is it ok to have a removable one if I am committed to wearing it?

Thanks! (Obviously I am looking forward to the end of this braces saga - it is getting me through the first few weeks!).

[Sunny]

Josie I think it's best for patients to have what is recommended by their ortho and that they'd commit to wearing.

The bonded retainers are usually the best, but they're only good on people with a high level of oral hygiene and they do require a commitment to check that they're attached, as they can come off if hey are knocked by hard food.

We offer most of our patients bonded upper and lower retainers, due to this reducing post braces movement. We also ask that hey continue to wear their removable retainers while they sleep every second or third night, forever. Bonded retainers will keep the front four or six teeth, that they're attached to, aligned, but you still need to retain the rest of your teeth.

Good luck with finishing your treatment!

[josie]

Ok, thanks Sunny!

[josie]

PS - Why do you ask people to wear their removable retainers every 2nd or 3rd night as well as having a bonded one? Shouldn't all their teeth be kept in place if they are wearing a removable one a few nights a week - and if so, why the need for the bonded one too?

[MsMichelle]

Josie I just asked my ortho this same question the other day and her response was that the bonded retainers only keep those teeth that it is bonded to aligned and those other teeth need to have the help too that's why you have to have the other retainers as well.

I asked because since I have a gap in my upper two front teeth I have been told by my ortho that I may be a good candidate for them beause she is concerned that my teeth my want to shift back into their regular old place when we are done with the treatment.

[Sunny]

Josie's right ... a bonded retainer is only for the front four or six teeth ... and the rest need to be kept in alignment as well.

Bonded retainers are great for people who've had gaps as well as rotations. I've had both and this is why my ortho has said without the bonded ones, I'd be risking relapse.

[josie]

Maybe my question wasn't clear enough LOL!

I understand that, if you have a bonded one, you also need another one for the other teeth...

But my question is, if you have a non-bonded one which you wear regularly, then why do you need a bonded one too? Why doesn't the non-bonded one keep all your teeth, including the front ones, in place? (Ie the opposite of the question you guys have answered!).

[Phantom Muse]

I have only removable retainers, and they are working just fine. However, from my understanding, bonded retainers might be especially useful for patients who have had gaps in their front teeth as the bonded retainer helps to prevent them from "gapping" again. Also, I have friends whose orthos have told them they needed bonded retainers for reasons of compliance.

Hope this helps!

[josie]

Great, thanks!

[Sunny]

Ops ... sorry about the misunderstanding Josie!

PM is right. Bonded are great for people who've had lots of movement with the front teeth, like gaps, overcrowding, rotating etc. Our teeth will continual to move for as long as we're alive. They seem to want to move even more after ortho work ... I've heard it referred to as 'memory' ... it's like they want to return to where they came from ... and then move some more. A bonded retainer will ensure the front teeth don't go anyplace during the day and the removable retainers keep all the teeth in check when they're worn, which is often only two or three nights a week a life.

[jessi]

This is all so interesting...in my case, my ortho put lingual permanent retainers on top and bottom. They had a lot of movement so I understand why he wanted to do this, even though I wasn't thrilled at first. Being about a year into permanent retainers, I have to say, I love them...I haven't had any real issues, but I am very big into oral hygiene and spend a good amount of time making sure all is well in my mouth. I am surprised to read about also needing removable retainers for the rest of the teeth since my ortho never mentioned this. I just assumed that the permanently retained teeth would keep the others in alignment as well...like if they were being retained in the proper position, the others would stay where they were also. I have noticed that on one side, my farthest back molar has shifted a bit upwards, but nothing to be concerned about. Maybe there are some instances where you don't need both or the ortho doesn't feel it necessary for your particular case??

[MsMichelle]

Jessi that is very interesting.... I guess each person's treatment is different. But I am happy to hear that your permanent retainers are doing their duty. I know I will probably need both permanent and regular.

Question: Do you find it more difficult to floss with your permanent retainers in your mouth?

Thanks for sharing your story.

This is all so interesting...in my case, my ortho put lingual permanent retainers on top and bottom. They had a lot of movement so I understand why he wanted to do this, even though I wasn't thrilled at first. Being about a year into permanent retainers, I have to say, I love them...I haven't had any real issues, but I am very big into oral hygiene and spend a good amount of time making sure all is well in my mouth. I am surprised to read about also needing removable retainers for the rest of the teeth since my ortho never mentioned this. I just assumed that the permanently retained teeth would keep the others in alignment as well...like if they were being retained in the proper position, the others would stay where they were also. I have noticed that on one side, my farthest back molar has shifted a bit upwards, but nothing to be concerned about. Maybe there are some instances where you don't need both or the ortho doesn't feel it necessary for your particular case??

[jessi]

Hi MsMichelle~

Actually, it's not that difficult to floss with the perm retainers. You just need some stiff floss or use threaders and it works just fine. The more you do it, the easier and faster it gets too. It is tons easier than flossing with braces on!

Also, I thought food would really get stuck in them when I first got them, but fortunately, it's not that bad. I guess I had all these worries and it's not nearly as bad as I thought. I LOVE that I don't have to remember to put removable ones back in all the time, plus not having to clean them constantly. I find the bonded ones to be pretty low maintenance these days.

Best of luck...

Jessi

[emmie]

I will go ahead and throw my 2cents in on this one. I have bonded retainer on my bottom teeth from the first time I had braces, my teeth have not moved, not even to my current ortho's eye. Currently, I have upper braces and when i get them off I will be getting a permanent retainer behind my top teeth (along w/ a nightly retainer of course) because a big problem w/ my teeth is that they are/were rotated and the top bonded retainer coupled with the nightly wear retainer will give that extra help prevent them from rotating back. Personally, IMO, I will take all the help I can get this time to guarantee that my teeth will be straight for LIFE!
Adjusting to eating and cleaning is not a big problem in comparison to the reward, just cut your apples and scrape the corn off the cob

[Sunny]

Jessi it's great to read how well your bonded retainers is working.

It's important to remember that there is no such thing as a permanent retainer. Bonded retainers are not permanent and come unbonded just as backets can. They should be checked at least once a week to make sure all the bonding is secure.

Bonded retainers will not stop any teeth, other than the bonded ones, from moving. Teeth can move in four directions and they have the freedom to do this. Moving forward in the jaw may not be as easy when they meet the bonded teeth, but that means they can work it moving forward or behind these teeth ... which will result in your teeth/bite not being in the best place. This is why it's important to continue with some night time wear of removable retainers for life. We recommend two or three nights a week ... and nightly if you think you'll forget.

How teeth move is an individual process and once the teeth are stable it may be 10+ years before you notice that they're out of alignment again ... but who wants to take the risk ... ?