
Finally my tongue is healed and I'm coping with these most of the time.
I estimate I'm wearing them about nine hours during my 'awake' time, plus through the night. Night time wear is amazingly easy!
My favourite is still my bonded retainers and I'm so looking forward to the time when I can leave the removable retainers in my ensuite bathroom, so it's night time wear only!
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I loathe my lower clear retainer ...
I think I've used more salt in salt rinses than during my entire treatment! I have a row of mouth sores under my tongue from it rubbing on an inside edge on the lower retainer. I've smoothed the retainer, but these sores don't like spicy foods ... which I love ... or much else that I like. The warm salt water rinses make my mouth feel amazing ... but then I eat ... and ... well my mouth is sore again!
Shame the bonded retainers
I love these tiny pieces of gold! They have a huge job to do and I hope they do it for a long time! I've not got my clear aligner type retainers yet ... but these are so easy, I was used to them within 24 hours!
Attachment 1947Attachment 1948
I'm so thrilled with my results!
My teeth are worn and come from a time when getting fillings every time you went to the dentist was expected ... but I'm just thrilled with my final results.
Here's a photo ... a reminder of where these teeth once were!
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After 5 years, 11 months and 2 days ... they're off!
At the end of work today it was my turn and I was really nervous. I was experiencing irrational thoughts, like maybe my teeth would fall out, that there'd be nasty stains ... but it was easy and great!
First one of my assistants bonded gold wires on the back of my upper six teeth and lower eight teeth. Next a quick turn with the pliers and out came the upper and lower brackets all attached to the archwire with powerchains