Can you offer me any suggestions on how to overcome my intense hatred of wearing a retainer?

I do not have a success story to share, because I hated my retainer and never wore it. However, as an adult, I have contemplated getting the invisalign (or whatever they’re called) braces that are like a cross between braces and a retainer, and they give you a new set to wear to progressively shift your teeth. Since you are having so much discomfort with the old retainer, it seems that your teeth have shifted more than you realize, so the progressive approach of the invisalign-type system might be better for you.

The thing is, I can still get them on, and I think they’ll get them back to the right places if I can only bring myself to wear it! I wonder if doing it in 15 minute increments a few times during the day would work? I guess I really need to ask a dentist or an orthodontist.

Do you have any idea how much the invisiline braces things are? That probably would be the better alternative….

Glad you know how I feel. Did they drive you absolutely wonky? I don’t know how I survived braces. I also had that giant wire thing that fit into slots on either side of my mouth, and it looked like some sort of debil halo around my mouth. God I hated that too!

I can understand how tough this is, especially at this age, but try to keep your eye on the goal, which will be worth the discomfort, inconvenience, and expense.

@Dutchess_III – No, I never seriously looked into the pricing. I’d bet the cost is relative to the length of the treatment you need, though. Since yours is just a re-correction, it probably would be cheaper than for someone who’d never had braces.

Just remember that there are worse things than a retainer you could be forced to have in your mouth.

Is it still necessary to have an old-fashioned, wire retainer? I’ve never used one, but I’ve always thought that it must be very awkward and uncomfortable to sleep that way.

Do your teeth shift because you grind or tongue-thrust while sleeping? If yes, wouldn’t a custom-made mouth guard prevent the damage? Or have you asked about Invisalign and other non-metal options?

@SadieMartinPaul No, they’re shifting because they’re just trying to go back to where they were moved from.

I don’t have a wire retainer. I think that wouldn’t be as bad as the one I have, which is all plastic, formed to my teeth. It’s twice as bulky as a wire retainer.

I just need to touch base with a Doctor on Monday, and check all of this out.

Thanks for the help.

Good luck on Monday, @Dutchess_III.

I’ll let you guys know…You know, I may do more harm than good trying to wear retainers that don’t quit fit any more, too.

Just look at pictures of people who should have gotten braces and retainers in their youth but never did and that might help you get over your hatred of the dratted device.

I think I have the same thing. It does sound like it isn’t fitted well.

It was fitted the second time I got braces. I just haven’t….worn it. :(

< is a board certified dentist. If you don’t wear your retainer, your teeth will gravitate back to where they were. Also, there is a phenomenon called ‘mesial drift’ and I am sure you have seen old people with incredibly crowded anterior teeth. This could be you. Any one who has braces as an adult or after about the age of 14 will need to wear retainers for life. It’s a fact. Sorry

Thanks so much for your answer @trailsillustrated. But…I haven’t been wearing them (I’m 55 now) and in the last year or so my teeth have started to drift. I can still get the retainer on (it’s an all plastic retainer molded specifically to my teeth) but it’s a little tight. I can feel my teeth aching the next day so it’s doing something.

My question is, is it moving them back into alignment, or shoving them further out of alignment since in isn’t a perfect fit any more?

Stop

@Dutchess_III go to the orthodontist and have new ones made. What they’ll do is take a diamond tape and file interproximally (between your teeth) to make room, and then fit you with new retainers that will move your teeth back. You will have to wear them at night for life.

Any idea how much that would cost? I’m sure insurance wouldn’t cover it because it’s cosmetic at this point.

5–700$. You could just keep jamming the old one on. It’ll hurt for a while but it will force your teeth back, and you’ll have to wear it at night forever. Make sure you floss carefully everyday (I know you do this) because your’e going to lose a little bone.

Thank you.
What is the minimum amount of time I could wear them? I think I’d fare better doing increments during the day rather than turning into a raging, murderous barn kitty every night.

When I did it, I wore it every night, and it quit hurting after about 4 days.

PS invisalign is +4k.

It’s not the hurt that bothers me. It’s the damn thing in my mouth. I don’t know why, but it just drives me insane. If I wore it in two one hour increments during the day, would that be enough?

You pretty much have to sleep in it every night. Those increments aren’t really enough to effect anything but making your mouth sore and possibly loosening your teeth.

@trailsillustrated Question: I had adult braces (second round; first was as a kid) in order to create space for my two front teeth, 8 & 9, to be root canal’ed. After everything was done, they told me to my surprise that I wouldn’t need to wear a retainer because the new veneers are supposed to hold everything in place. But I had always heard I’d need them, as you say – and now, two years later, I have definitely experienced some drift.

So, I guess what I’m saying is that now I’m puzzled.

@Dutchess_III Maybe think about asking for a bite guard instead of a retainer. They don’t have the part that sticks to the roof of your mouth and so are somewhat less incredibly annoying, but will still hold your teeth in place at night.

The thing is, the retainers are formed specifically for the way my teeth were when they were aligned. Bite guards would just hold them where they are now, which is not what I want.

@wildpotato here’s the thing: When the teeth are veneered, then you have a whole different set of circumstances regarding force and stress. Because your teeth have ceramic coverings, you can’t exert rotational stress on them as you would natural teeth. I would wear your old retainer or get new ones made. Also, because these teeth have been root canaled, there is more concern regarding bone loss if you move them. Let me know what happens, what you decide.