Retainer brace tightening help

[RjMuk]

My son has a retainer brace that we are meant to tighten. We can't figure it. The orthodontists have not yet replied usefully. We have looked at YouTube but can't see anything useful. Does anyone have any tips or links they can share?

Are you sure you are meant to tighten it yourselves? I wouldn’t do anything or follow any online advice without waiting to hear from the orthodontist.

Yes they told me to. Showed me a 1 min example and then said bye. It doesn't work like they said so hoping someone on here can help as they haven't been helpful so far.

Did they give you a tool to tighten it? My daughter's has a tiny metal wheel with little holes. The tool goes in the top hole and you turn it a half turn. Does that line up with anything you are seeing?

Yes we have a metal key. It is meant to go into a hole in the roof of the retainer and twist, but we can't seem to do that. My husband has tried to.

It always takes me a few tries to get the tool into the hole. A bright light and reading glasses help. It's very fiddly. Is there a direction indicated? My daughter's retainer has an arrow. If no arrow, you could try the opposite direction to what you think

My daughter had similar. My DH would get her to lie upside down on the sofa with her head dangling down. Then kneel in front with me shining the torch. After a few goes it became second nature and he’d sit her on the kitchen side to do it. I was always the torch holder. Didn’t want to do it and possibly hurt her 🥹 ( it never did)