hey im just curious has anyone who has worn braces been able to go without wearing retainers at all, and not have their teeth revert back? i know they say you typically have to wear retainers for about 6 months to a year 24-7 before you can go down to once at night---for the rest of your life. for those who have worn retainers, was there ever a time where you stopped using them after a set amount of time, and had no problems with your teeth reverting back? Id also like to know if you can get away with wearing retainers only at night or about 3 times a week 24 7 right after braces---without them going back to how they were before braces were on...
btw, im going to be wearing invisalign braces, dont know if that makes a difference in the replies i get
Senior Member
My personal opinion is that it's just plain silly to risk the results that have cost us so much time and money, for the sake of avoiding retainer-wear. Truly, 24/7 wear is not such an horrendous burdon, even for a year. For what it's worth, I largely toed the line on this score - I stuck as close to 24/7 as I was able for the first 8 or 9 months, and was still wearing them around 18 - 22 hours a day on average at a year. My ortho was pleased with my retention and told me I could reduce that to nights. But I'll tell you, those retainers still feel very tight when I pop them in at bed time, although by morning they're fitting very easily again.
Follow your ortho's retainer wear instructions. If you do get relapse as a result of not doing so, your ortho could well be able to tell that this is the reason why, and in that case you may find yourself footing the bill for any corrections.
My personal opion on retainers is that we should all wear them exactly according to our orthodontist instructions. But of corse there are many kids out there who choose not to listen. My friend decided when she got her braces off that a retainer wouldn't be necessary. How far could teeth move,right? WRONG. My friends teeth went back to there almost exact orginial position and now she has to go through wearing braces again. I think you should just wear your retainer according to our orthodontist instructions. I don't see what the big deal is your retainer is going to be clear and nobody well even notice.
Good luck!
Senior Member
I second what zoso and samantha said. Don't take chances. It's not worth it. Many adults who had braces as kids didn't wear their retainers like they were supposed to. You don't want to waste money and time getting treatment again? I wouldn't after I get my braces off.
Last edited by mariahfromchicago; 08-17-2008 at 08:17 PM.
Wear your retainers! I cannot say that enough. I have invisalign now because I didnt wear my retainers when I was young and got my metal braces off. Its not worth it. Trust me.
I can't imagine spending all that money and then messing things up by not wearing my retainer so even though I have yet to get my braces fitted I know that I will stick to the word of my ortho to the letter.
Wear em as directed. My ortho already told me he's gonna put in a permanent one on the bottom glued to the back of the teeth and a removable on top. I wore my retainers every night the first time I got them even though the ortho made it wrong and I ground down the piece of metal sticking out. Every morning my teeth hurt because they were moving into a bad position.
That being said, if the ortho did a good job then there's nothing to worry about!
Junior Member
I was wondering if anyone could tell me what their retainers look like? My Ortho told me that I will be wearing some that basically look like invisalign but only at night. After reading this thread it sounds as though this may be incorrect. Any suggestions?
Senior Member
Not sure why you should fear this is incorrect? Your ortho apparently is planning on using some brand of "slipcover" retainer, such as Essix, Trutain, Orthotain or such. These do indeed look a lot like Invisalign trays.
Junior Member
The main reason I was concerned is because it sounds like he wasn't planning on having me wear anything during the day or 24/7, which is what everyone was stressing as really important.
Senior Member
Blondii not all ortho's prescribe 24/7 wearing of retainers. If an orthodontist is confident with the stability of the results, the patient may be told that retainers are to be worn at night only. Then after some months of this, the patient may be told to wear their retainers a number of nights a week for life. This may be from 1-7 nights a week. This will depend mostly on who is telling you and the results they're looking at.
Research does show that the wearing of retainers for some part, for life, is the only way to prevent teeth from moving. With those who don't wear retainers long term, following orthodontic treatment, some may find their teeth move only a little, while others will find that their teeth return to how they were before ortho treatment. The risk is high of movement, and this is why retainers for life is highly recommended.
Talk to your ortho about your concerns, as this is the only person who can give you accurate information.
Good luck!
After 5 years, 11 months and two days of stainless steel brackets ... my teeth now have upper and lower bonded, gold wire, retainers and removable clear retainers!
Member
My older brother NEVER wore his retainers and his teeth are still exactly as they were post banding...that was 32 years ago! My younger brother's teeth moved back to their original position even though he wore his retainer for a year at night. They moved back within the first 5 years after he stopped wearing the retainer. He got his off about 28 years ago. BTW, I did not have braces when I was younger as neither the ortho nor my parents thought it was necessary. I disagree; but all is fine now!
I will take advice from my little bro and wear mine for life. I think my big brother just got lucky!!
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