i should start off by specifying that i dont have money for any orthodontics. my insurance is bare minimum and i simply dont have the money for short term braces or invisalign.
when i wa 15 i got my braces off. i wore my retainer until my doctor told me i didnt need to anymore about a year later.
its been five years now, and i have small spaces in the top of the front of my smile. they really arent bad at all,
my retainer still fits, just with a gap between my teeth and the plastic, but i can get it on. im wondering if i wear it how it would take me to get back to normal.?
i know that its different for everyone and without seeing no one can be sure, but there are relatively small spaces and im simply asking for an educated guess.
im also asking if anyone advises me not to do this seeing as its been about 4 years since i had it in last? theres a decent amount of space between my top and botom teeth. my bottom retainer still fits perfectly with no gaps.
thanks guys!

Technorati Tags: After, Closing, Gaps, Retainer, Small, Wearing, Years

So I had braces when I was in high school and had a retainer. Well at the time I was going to college then quit and my dads insurance kicked me off. Shortly after my retainer broke and now several years later my gap in between my front two teeth came back.
Question is do i have to get braces again or can i just get a retainer and go in for my monthly check up for tightening? I my teeth are staight both top and bottom for the exeption of the gap. And the gap runs in the fam.
So can I just get the retainer or do i have to get braces again?

Technorati Tags: Help, Orthodontics, Please, Question, Retainer

I lost my invisalign retainer at least 3 or 4 months ago and I’ve been irresponsible enough about it to not do anything until now. I still wear the upper half of my retainer which keeps my top row of teeth aligned, although my bite has significantly changed because I’m missing my lower aligner.
I want to buy a new one desperately, but I don’t have much money and what I do have I am saving up for college (which I will be attending in less than 2 months). I’m concerned because I’ve heard the cost for molds, etc will be around 300$!
My main questions are; How will my orthodontist be able to replace my lost retainer now that my teeth have moved?
and… How much will it cost?
Braces on the bottom half of my mouth would be so expensive… and my parents are definitely not willing to fix my mistakes so it’s up to me
Pity/help me!

Technorati Tags: Cost, Lost, Much, Replacement, Retainer, Will

Hello everyone. I had my braces removed when i just turned 17, and I only wore my retainer at night due to vanity, and stupidity. Now I am 20 and I regret it so much now. I currently have a small gap between my front teeth, and slightly on the sides of my front teeth. The teeth haven’t shifted dramatically in any other way though……I have an appointment with an orthodontist coming up, but I hope that I do not have to go back to braces. Anyways, is all that shifting safe for my teeth? Can I get away with a new retainer, or invisalign?
You help would be appreciated!!
And kids, please wear your retainers!!!

Technorati Tags: Again, Braces, Didn't, Need, Retainer, Wear

Hi.
I’m getting my braces off in roughly 3 months (so close!) and I was wondering about which retainer to get. My orthodontist hasn’t exactly informed me about any choices yet, but I think if I could develop a preference it would help.
So, the Hawley container is the colorful molded one with the metal wires which fits to the roof of your mouth. The Essix container looks somewhat like Invisalign – clear and plastic. My brother got an Essix when he got his removed, but he complained of kanker sores from wearing it.
So, those of you who have gotten your braces off – what do you think?

Technorati Tags: Better, Essix, Hawley, Retainer, Which

My teeth are really tight in them because they’ve moved a little bit, not much though. what happened was, I started noticing that I was getting this tiny bit of a gap in between my front teeth so i thought if I started using my retainer again all the time my teeth would move back (it’s an invisalign thing thats molded)… anyways, I hate taking it out now to eat and stuff because it hurts since my teeth are moving back in place, but I was wondering how long will it take to actually move back so that I can just wear it at night?
and by the way, lesson learned: listen to your orthodontist.

Technorati Tags: Braces, But..., Fits, Retainer, Still, Years

Okay I haven’t been wearin my retainer for a while [its Invisalign] and I need to wear it because I have an orthodontist appt. coming up on Monday afternoon. [Today Is Thursday.] I know I need to wear my retainer as much as possible but I tried to put it in and it hurt so i stopped. Is there anything that I can do to soften it up or make it easier to get it in there? Anything will help. Thanx.

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I’m 43yrs. old .. don’t have major crooked teeth never wore braces as a child……I want to straighten my two front teeth and my dentist (not an orthodontist) recommended a spring retainer – which i haven’t rec’d yet but will shortly… my question is he said I’d only need to wear it about 5 months and should have my slightly overlapped front teeth corrected.. has anyone else used this method? (As opposed to invisalign or braces?)

Technorati Tags: Retainer, Spring

i got my retainer when i got my braces off but a couple weeks ago i got bubble gum stuck in my retainer. its plastic, like invisalign. HELP! i go back to the orthodontist next week and i need it out by then!

Technorati Tags: Bubble, Retainer

My orthodontist said that I should wear my retainer for 15 hours a day (so basically from about 9 PM to 12 PM the next day) 7 days per week. However, I’ve been wearing it about 12 hours (12 to 12) a day for maybe 6 or sometimes 5 days per week. Is this a big deal or is it important that I wear it strictly as instructed?
It is an invisalign lifetime-wear retainer.

Technorati Tags: Longer, Retainer, Should, Wearing