I'm having problems with my retainer...or lack of I guess I should say.

[Anna1185]

I posted this in the General Dental Problems forum but I'm thinking I'll have more luck here:


Hi all! This is my first time posting!

I got my braces off when I was 15. Had a permanent wire retainer on my bottom teeth and a removable plastic wire one for my top. I wore it constantly until I was around 18 and then lost it. Asked the ortho for a new one and he said I didn't need it anymore...so I didn't bother to get a new one. The guy's obviously a quack because my left front tooth is starting to overlap my other one, and I'm really freaking out.

So a few years back, I recover my lost retainer, which just fell on the side of my bed. Stupid me. I should have put it back in right then and there but I stuck it in a drawer instead and never wore it again.

A few days ago, I put it back in my mouth. And boy was it tight...the pain was horrendous. But I kept it in because it still kinda fit. I mean yeah it was really tight and it wouldn't completely snap into place on one side because the gap in the two teeth that the wire went between was not there...so I guess it was kinda in there lop-sided. Not the best thing, but it still fit so I figured what the crap, I'll just keep it in...and I did.

Now a few days later, it doesn't hurt as much when I put it in at night to sleep, but it still aches a bit. It's a lot easier to take out, as I seem to be able to just pop it out with my tongue now as opposed to tugging it out with my fingers, but the wire still won't snap in all the way on the right side because like I said, the gap in between my teeth is no longer there. I want to know if this is harming my teeth in any way. I plan on calling my ortho tomorrow morning but I've been wearing this thing for a week already so I wanna get some info ASAP.

I don't want to be causing more damage to my teeth or misaligning them in any way, I just want my tooth to go back to normal. I've been hearing mixed reviews about wearing an old retainer, especially since I haven't worn it in 3 years...some say to do it, it'll get easier to put in and out and it'll shift my teeth back. Others say not and that I'll pay for it in the long run. I just don't see how it can be bad? I figured eventually my teeth will shift and the gap will open back up, allowing my retainer to snap into place like it usually does...but I just don't want my teeth to get worse by wearing a lop-sided retainer.

I need some help!

Sorry this is so long. I just want to be as detailed as possible.

I also don't have my wisdom teeth removed, in case anybody was wondering. They don't give me trouble so my dentist said not to play around with them.

Thanks for any help you can give me!!

[Zoso]

There's an old adage that "a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client." And since we are not orthodontists, then trying to be our own orthodontist would be sillier. You might not be doing any harm, but you don't know. And I'd say that's good reason to call up your orthodontist and schedule an appointment as soon as you can.

Regarding the wisdom teeth, if they are fully erupted and your general dentist feels that you are having no trouble with hygiene with them, then there's probably no reason for them to be removed. Although in the past there was a lot of talk about wisdom teeth messing up the bite, there's a growing body of opinion that this is generally not the case.

[Anna1185]

Thanks. I scheduled an appointment on Monday and will wear the retainer unitl then. Hopefully it's just a matter of wait it out so that my teeth adjust because dental impressions scare the bejeezes out of me!

[Zoso]

I hope all goes as you wish on Monday.

I don't think many people would admit to liking impressions. If it should come to it though, and if gagging is your concern (as it is for so many) there are some tips that might help:

• Let the assistant know - a really good assistant will try to use the smallest amount of alginate necessry to get the job done, and will wait til the last possible moment to pop it in your mouth, so it doesn't need to be held there as long.
• Ask if you can sit up while the impressions are taken.
• Try to relax your tongue so that it can fall away from the impression tray.
• Try to focus on another muscle group - tense your abs, wiggle your toes, ... whatever works

for you.

[Anna1185]

I went to the Orthodontist! He just shaved down my old retainer in the front and adjusted the wire so that it pushes on my one tooth a bit more. I have to wear it full time again for six months (ugh), but hopefully I'll see some kind of a difference soon.

My only concern is that it still doesn't fit in all the way on one side so hopefully with time it'll start to fit better.

I can't believe I have to wear this thing full-time again 8 years later! Blah!!

[Zoso]

Better than going back into braces though!

[SouthernGirl]

^^^ Amen. You don't need braces as an adult.

[Zoso]

Nothing wrong with having braces as an adult, and any adult that makes the decision to do so should be proud they did. Just that it's nicer in a case like Anna's if the retainer can get the job done instead.