Permanent Retainer

Updated on April 02, 2012
M.<. asks from Salina, KS
8 answers

My dentist put in a permanent retainer behind my bottom six teeth. From one eye tooth to the other. They glue the metal onto my teeth. I had it put on after braces. It has been 13 years since braces and my wire popped loose so they put a new one back on today. Technology sure has come a ways in the last 13 yrs b/c they used this harder type of wire now as my permanent retainer. They said I have a tooth thats barely outta line from other teeth. So this new thicker advanced wire is suppose to align my tooth back in place. They never told me that it would hurt later. It feels like braces all over again. My bottom teeth are sore and it feels tight. Not trying to be a baby but Im having flashbacks of highschool over here. Eating w/ braces was awful. I made taco cupcakes tonight and it sort of hurt biting on the hard shell :(
My question is if anyone else has experienced permanent retainers? Not sure many dentist use this technique. I want it off my teeth! Ahhhh!!!

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So What Happened?

Thank you for replying everyone. Well I sure don't miss braces but this new wire that they're using now a days feels like braces. Atleast its behind my teeth. I can feel it tightning and it doesn't hurt bad like braces but its uncomfortable. I just wanted to see if anyone else experienced the permanent retainer. My old permanent retainer didn't bug me but it was because it was a thin wire. These new thick wires are designed to align your bottom teeth without getting braces. I'm sure once they align they tight feeling will reside. Speaking of braces, did you guys ever get bread stuck in your brackets? LOL! Ew I don't miss those days. I seldom used my removable retainer. I figured why go 2 years with braces and have another year of a retainer on top of it? The braces were expensive enough so I shouldn't have to go another year for a retainer. My dentist said bottom teeth shift after braces and thats why they give permanent retainers. This new fancy wire they put in my mouth is certainly strong. ALL FOR ONE TOOTH THAT BARELY WAS OUTTA LINE WITH THE REST. Oh well..whatever. Glad to know I'm not the ONLY person with a permanent retainer.

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A.G.

answers from Provo on

I have one...it's not painful or uncomfortable anymore (i've had it in since I was...13 or so tho'...so it's been awhile!). My only suggestion - If I were you, I'd invest in a waterpik thingie or something...I don't have the patience to floss like I should :p

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I.D.

answers from Chicago on

I do remember braces being a little painful but after braces I had a removable retainer.

Now twenty years later I need a retainer to fix the crowding off my bottom teeth that occurs with age. NOT FUN!

I would suggest asking your dentist for a removable retainer as another option... see what he says.

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E.F.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I have one, after redoing braces last summer. The discomfort lasts for a few days, or maybe a week, but then you'll get used to it. However, I do find myself pushing at it with my tongue when I'm concentrating or bored. Ugh. There are times I'm ready to rip it out, but mostly it's just "there".

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N.P.

answers from San Francisco on

I had three years of braces as a kid and wore my retainer for a while but eventually I would find it across the room in the mornings when I would wake up. Apparently I was sleep-chucking it over there in the middle of the night because it was bothering me. One of my bottom teeth has twisted a little in the last twenty years, but you know what? It's wabi-freaking-sabi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi

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A.A.

answers from Tulsa on

I have one behind my bottom teeth, it's been there for...ummm...14 years now. It doesn't bother me much, I don't even notice it. I remember asking my orthodontist when I would get it taken off, and he said "never, unless it bugs you". It doesn't, so it stays. If it was uncomfortable, I don't think I'd deal with it though. I've been through 3 years of braces as a kid, don't want to do that again as an adult!

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M.L.

answers from Houston on

I haven't worn braces in over 15 years... I was *also* supposed to have a permanent retainer.. but guess what, only one of my lower teeth have barely shifted, and I have an extremely small mouth. I do not mind having a tooth, or even few that has barely shifted. I will NEVER go back in to get the permanent retainer.

The many different types of retainers I wore (for several years) were torture. One even exploded in my mouth and cut up and scarred the roof of my mouth. If I absolutely had to do something to straighten my one tooth.. I would do invisaline.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

I got a permanent retainer about 8 months ago on the bottom where you did. I never experienced any pain. Perhaps, it was the technique of the person putting it on, and not actually the retainer itself?

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

you are the boss just tell them you want it off. when i turned 16 i told my orthodontist i wasnt going to be driving with braces and he took them off. he wanted to leave them on longer but their was no point it had been 4 years and honestly my teeth havent shifted that much. braces ruin yiour teeth. all my teeth are loose now and i never had a single cavity until i got braces..... tell him to take it off

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