retainer question...

[josie]

I have a long way to go yet but keeping focussed on the end goal is a great motivator, so...

I have a question about retainers. I understand there are 2 main types (excluding the fixed/bonded type), there is a clear sort of Invisalign one (Essix?) and there is one which has a plastic moulded thing inside your mouth - I think this is a Hawley?

My ortho has said I will need to wear upper and lower retainers 24 hrs a day for 6 mnths, but I can choose which of these 2 types.

Do the Hawley ones affect your speech much? When I was a kid (I'm now 32), I had a removable appliance on my upper and lower arches and it had the hard plastic moulded stuff. It did affect my speech greatly and wasn't something that got any easier. In my current job, it's really important that I can speak clearly and without seemingly having something in my mouth! (One of the reasons I didn't choose lingual braces.)

Do the Essix retainers cause less problems with speech, as they don't have all that plastic moulded stuff in your mouth?

Once I only have to wear them at night, I could wear the Hawley ones if they last longer, but for these first 6 mnths I want to be careful what I choose.

Thanks!

[Sunny]

josie both of the main types of retainers (essix and hawley) have positives and negatives and the best part about them is that you will adjust. Both usually affect speech for a period of time, but again, with practise the person adjusts.

Some people with bad gag reflux, find the hawley dreadful and other's who have a tendancy towards an open bite should never wear an essix.

In general the essix is the preferred retainer, due to it being almost invisable. Most people want that look once they get their braces off and the essix does an outstanding job at retaining teeth.

The essix retainer is also stronger than invisalign aligners and should last as long (maybe longer) than the hawley retainer.

Good luck with your treatment!

[josie]

Excellent - I'm thinking I will go with the Essix then... I'd be interested to hear from others who have an Essix retainer about how/whether it has affected their speech at all...?

[Candymomof3]

Hi Josie, I have an Essix retainer, and I have had it for about 5 weeks...It's not very noticable, more noticable to you than anyone else. Most people were not even aware I was wearing it. I had to wear it for the first 30 days straight, and now I wear it at night, well..as soon as I finish dinner, I brush, floss and rinse and keep it on til the next day. It's comfortable enough, the top feels better than the bottom..but I only have to wear the bottom ones 1-2x weekly. It would have been harder to handle wearing both full time but because I have a permanant retainer, I didn't have to do daily wear of the bottom. It's harder to talk with both in, and I think I look a little strange but at 2 nights as week, I can handle it : )
Good luck with your choices! I think you will find the Essix one a great decision!

[Candymomof3]

oh, and it hardly affects my speech...after about a day I felt like I was talking just fine...with the top only though, was a little harder with the lowers in also.

[coconut]

other's who have a tendancy towards an open bite should never wear an essix.

Not necessarily.

I had an open bite and use an essix type retainer. My ortho saw fit to recommend this retainer for me based on his training and experience. I've been debanded a few years now and there has been no relapse.

[Sunny]

That's great coconut, but you're definitely the exception which may mean your ortho knew something about your bite to know that it wouldn't be affected due to the teeth not touching while the retainers are in.

[coconut]

Sunny, I may not be that much of an exception. What are your grounds for saying so?

[drd]

If your ortho says you are a good candidate for either type of retainer, you will almost definitely be happier with the clear type retainer. Technically, essix is a material, and different people make different retainers from this material. I think it is safe to assume your essix retainer will look similar to an invisalign aligner covering all of the teeth and not going into the palate.

The benefits of the clear retainers are
1. definitely better and easier for speaking
2. more comfortable, more esthetic, smaller, usually easier to wear
3. acts like a splint to protect from clenching and/or grinding (this is huge and often overlooked)
Best of luck, drd

[coconut]

If your ortho says you are a good candidate for either type of retainer, you will almost definitely be happier with the clear type retainer. Technically, essix is a material, and different people make different retainers from this material. I think it is safe to assume your essix retainer will look similar to an invisalign aligner covering all of the teeth and not going into the palate.

The benefits of the clear retainers are
1. definitely better and easier for speaking
2. more comfortable, more esthetic, smaller, usually easier to wear
3. acts like a splint to protect from clenching and/or grinding (this is huge and often overlooked)
Best of luck, drd

Thanks, well made points particularly no. 3. It's always great to hear a professional's point of view to put things in their proper context.