Got my Essix retainer!

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Well it's quite a bit chunkier in the mouth than the invisalign trays but am getting used to it.

ortho said I can go straight to night time wear only, but that feels too big a step so still wearing it until lunchtime then off till after dinner, to break myself in!

The upper one feels really tight, have got a bit of tenderness. Kezza do I remember you saying it felt a bit like a new aligner going in?

The lower one is much less snug, not much of a click when it goes on, am keeping an eye on if it is holding my fangs in place well enough and if not will speak to ortho.

Got my poladay whitening stuff too, will give it a week or so till I embark on that journey, lots of tea and wine drinking to catch up on first.....

[angel9165]

Congratulations!!!

I'm just a week into this and I soooo miss my wine!!! Here's to the bottle I open the day I'm finally done!!

[kezzakattami]

CONGRATS!!! How exciting, its such a relief to know that the tightness of new trays is no-more and you can eat and drink without thinking about your oral hygeine 24/7!!!!!!!!

Yes, mine were tight like the feel of a new tray for the first 4 or 5 days. I was convinced that they moved my teeth ever-so slightly from where Invisalign took them too, but they dont visibly look any different so am happy.

They are chunkier and take some getting used to, I wear them about 15 hours a day and theyre still snug when i put them back in in the evenings. I couldnt go to night time wear, and dont see me doing that for another few months yet.

I find them less noticable to other people and much, much easier to keep clean. I still brush after every meal, I got used to the fresh feeling whilst wearing the trays but its nice to get some normality back and not be watching the clock to hit your 22 hours wear time!

I found a crack in my lower tray last month at the very back, think that was from me biting down on the trays at the start because they were so thick. The split hasnt got any worse, so will wait till my next appointment to mention it.

Im so pleased for you, I felt such a sense of achievement at the end of my treatment, hope you do too

[Sunny]

Fantastic that you're now learning to live with retainers!

Here's to your teeth behaving well!

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Cheers guys, can't believe how quickly those 18 months went!

I've got used to the feel of them, the top one is still nice and snug but teeth no longer tender, hurrah.

The lower one is definately too loose though. After having it out for 5 hours yesterday then putting it back on I felt nothing. I tried my invisalign tray to compare and it was tight.

So last night I slept in the lower invisalign tray and when I checked my teeth this morning, they are definately straighter than they were after a night with the essix retainer.

I'm going to ring the ortho to see if we can take another impression (argh) for the lower one as I am not going to wear it if it isn't doing what it says on the tin! (Today I have the essix on top and invisalign lower).

They are definately less noticeable aren't they as they go up higher, that is a bonus!

Like you Kezza, I have got used to minty breath so ended up cleaning my teeth yesterday after lunch, even though I wasn't putting them back in!

[mommamorin]

havingitdone, good for you! It did go fast didn't it!!!
Like Kezza, I have the need to wear my retainers for most of the day, they are just too tight in the evenings if I don't. Please post current pics when you can, I'd love to see them!
take care and enjoy

[havingitdoneintheuk]

Cheers Momma, it sure did!

Yeh, I know what you mean.

I have decided to keep mine in full time until we sort the issue with the lower one then I will just take them out between lunch and dinner for a month or two before I go to night time only.

I'm going to get my 'after' photos done when I go back for a check in 3 months, so you will have to wait a little longer!!!

You too