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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

The braces are coming off!! What happens next?

50 replies

Sparklingbrook · 05/03/2014 09:31

After 2 years of braces and elastics and 6 weekly adjustments DS1's braces are being removed on 1st May.

So does they get removed (does that hurt) and then he wears his retainer at night and all will be well. Or is there anything else to consider?

TIA

OP posts:

ODearMe · 05/03/2014 22:56

No practical advise to offer but expect to look like a bee gee

MistressDeeCee · 05/03/2014 23:12

What do retainers look like? Are they huge/very visible? A bit concerned they have to be worn 24 hours daily for the 1st month? My teen is a dance/drama artiste branching out into auditions and stage work; just wondering about the look of retainers & do they affect the speech?

Would bonded retainers be best for her & are they more expensive? Sorry for all the questions I guess I just thought braces off in September, retainer at night for life and thats it. This thread has got me thinking about it a little more

at the Bee Gee comment, this I have to see!

Solo · 05/03/2014 23:24

Mine are supposed to be coming off in September too and fingers crossed it'll be by then too! I have no idea about the whys and wherefores of my retainer though. I'm not looking forward to the rubber bands.

My cousin has recently had hers out and is being very good about her retainer and she's a youngster (14). I have a friend who is 45 and her permanent retainer broke and was never replaced ~ her teeth had braces as a teen. Her teeth are now all over the place. She's very upset about it.

MistressDeeCee · 05/03/2014 23:39

Good detailed info from the British Orthodontic Society about retainers here, including images. Think I'll go along to the Orthodontist with DD & ask about the 1st 2 types, the 3rd type seems a bit much...

www.bos.org.uk/public-patients-home/orthodontics-for-children-and-teens/treatment-types/retainers

frostyfingers · 06/03/2014 17:01

DS had his braces off after 4 years of treatment - it has been a nightmare at times and sometimes I can't believe we're done. He's got a retainer to wear at night, "for as long as possible" and a 3 month check up and then that's it thank god. He is so relieved it's all over, and has instantly stopped mumbling and trying to hide his mouth - I am grateful that he has straight teeth now, but am convinced that the whole process needn't have been as difficult and long as it was......

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 06/03/2014 17:19

Blimey frosty did you know it would be 4 years at the start? DS1 sobbed when he knew it would be 2, and I very nearly joined him/

Did you have a party? I would have.

OP posts:

itsbetterthanabox · 06/03/2014 17:46

You'll find his retainer all over the place. Sometimes it falls out in your sleep and then if you lay on it can break as it becomes very brittle, nightmare!
Wearing it is important though. My friend didn't wear hers at all and her teeth became very crooked. She recently had braces again as an adult to fix them .
I stopped wearing mine after a few years and although my teeth look fine atm I could definitely not get the retainer on so they have moved. If you don't wear the retainer for a week or so and put it in again it does hurt because the teeth have moved but it's worth forcing it on to move then back!

Mrsmorton · 06/03/2014 17:59

box speaks sense

frostyfingers · 06/03/2014 18:28

No we didn't - he was 10 and alarm bells started ringing when at the first session in hospital (he had to have some teeth out with GA, and some wire put in) they all said how young he was to start. You go with what the specialist says and then start to doubt yourself.

For the middle 2 years he was supposed to have them tightened monthly but because the hospital kept cancelling and changing appointments it dragged on for longer than it should have. He also had a piece of wire left in his gum which became infected and had to have a GA to get it out, the original orthodontist is a complete bastard and after that episode I refused to let him treat DS again. He's had a lovely lady for the last 2 years and she has been very good.

We've had broken bits of wire, sore gums, fainting after treatment (every time at the beginning, without fail!) and endless infections and we're hugely glad it's over!

Thank god he's the youngest as I'm not sure I'd embark on it again with another child!

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 06/03/2014 19:20

frosty that sounds horrible. Great that he's all sorted now.

not sure about the age thing-we were told all milk teeth would have to be out prior to braces. Some of his mates are just getting theirs at 14.

OP posts:

Seoulsister · 08/03/2014 09:14

My son was told last year to wear them alternate nights (or a more confusing pattern) until he's 21. I guess a lot of variation will be in the original problem and "treatment".
DD older. They didn't bother with retainers (or not at her orthodontist, since retired) and she says her teeth have slightly shifted. I did agonise about her having 4 perfectly good teeth out before the braces (DS didn't need this) but she is, by general acknowledgement a very pretty young woman with a warm smile. (Pity about the boyfriend, not relevant here though.)

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 08/03/2014 13:50

I know what you mean about the 'perfectly good teeth' coming out Seoul-it seems wrong doesn't it?

OP posts:

Solo · 09/03/2014 01:12

I don't get the having teeth out at all now. It was the one thing I asked: 'will I have to have any teeth removed?' he said no. Had he said yes, I most likely would not have had braces fitted. I have 32 teeth that have not a mm spare room and yet, my teeth are, by and large, straight now without the need for any extractions, so why do some people have to have 4 teeth out and others don't?! seems odd. Very confusing.

CorusKate · 09/03/2014 01:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TeenAndTween · 25/03/2014 11:42

Returning to this thread with an update.
DD1's braces came off yesterday, after almost exactly 2 years. Yay!

Taking the braces off didn't hurt at all.

They then had to do a mould for the retainer which only took a couple of minutes - this will then be sent in the post.

DD says the teeth move a little bit, but that is apparently normal.

She has to wear her retainer 24hrs a day for 4 weeks, then overnights, then it reduces over time. (I think eventually it drops to put it in once a month, if it feels tight then wear it, if not then don't).

The retainer is made of clear rigid plastic and is cleaned with water - not toothpaste as that will make it go cloudy.

DD1 now has a slight lisp like she had when she first got the braces, but had a beautiful smile she's not embarrassed about.

We have to go back in 6mnths before being signed off.

TeenAndTween · 25/03/2014 11:44

oh, you take the retainer out to eat and then pop it back in afterwards.

Gymbob · 25/03/2014 17:24

great news op.

my dd is 15 now and after 9 months of twin block braces she had double train tracks fitted last week.

the ortho wanted to take out two perfectly healthy teeth instead of the twin block but when I did my own research I found out we could achieve almost the same results with twin block. so we're on the braces and elastics for about 2 years now.

I want to know if we can have a fixed retainer at the end of treatment instead of the planned removable one. does anyone know please? sorry to hijack your thread op

Groovee · 25/03/2014 17:29

My niece had her braces off 6 months ago but 2 weeks ago had to have the fixed braces put back on. Despite religiously wearing the retainer one of her teeth moved right out of position. Her mum had just spent £70 on a gum shield for her for hockey.

Orthodontist said it wasn't her fault but the tooth needs more time.

TeenAndTween · 25/03/2014 20:15

gymbob although I updated, I'm not the OP either so I guess I hijacked too!

groovee Oh no!

Gymbob · 25/03/2014 21:01

just shows what a good and helpful thread it is then doesn't it

singaporeswing · 28/03/2014 04:54

My DSis had braces for 7 years! Felt so sorry for her.

I had mine for 18months and just remember my teeth feeling so big afterwards

I wore my retainer for about 18months after, as recommended by my orthodontist.

This was about 10 years ago and in the past year, my bottom front teeth have started to overlap due to wisdom teeth growing in sideways. I have been told that this is normal - it's not majorly obvious and teeth are a lot better than before braces, but just to let you know that this can happen.

TeenAndTween · 28/03/2014 09:32

DD's retainer arrived yesterday and is now happily installed. DH had to do some trimming of it with scissors as the top was digging in to the gum, but it seems to be OK now. (We were told that we might need to trim it). It is hardly noticeable - until she speaks! Has a lisp but hopefully that will go in a few days.

kellibabylove · 28/03/2014 22:17

I had my brace for 2 years after knocking my lovely straight baby teeth out and the big ones grew back wonky.
I shamefully admit I wore my retainer for 1 day! I couldn't stand it! Thankfully my teeth are still straight but reading these posts about people being told wear them for life has shocked me!

Listmaker · 31/03/2014 13:42

My dd had her braces off a year ago and like others was told to wear the retainer full-time for a month and then at night every night for a year. We went back a couple of months ago for the last check up and were told that after the year mark she could go to every other night and then maybe to 2-3 times a week but for life. If the retainers feel tight when she puts them back on to up it again.

They only last so long and once she's over 18 will be pricy to replace but not much you can do.

My dd1 has a couple of friends who didn't wear theirs and had to have braces back on again so my dd2 is being very good about wearing it to keep her perfect smile!

My eldest sdd and a friend of mine have fixed retainers - a wire behind their teeth but this wasn't recommended for my dd. Think it does depend to some extent what the issues were etc. so everyone may get different advice but basically teeth can move all your life I think so it's wise to keep wearing the retainer.

I've suggested to my dd that she just wears it every night apart from sleepovers etc - easier to remember than every other night or every few days?

We bought the tablet things that you put into a cup of water and put the retainer into every few days to sterilize it and she keeps the pot and them in the bathroom so just puts it in and out after and before cleaning her teeth.

Gymbob · 01/04/2014 10:50

interesting listmaker. your dd sounds like a sensible girl. my dd's friends braces not going to plan certainly spurs her on to be good.

I hadn't actually thought that a fixed retainer might not be suitable for my dd, I thought it would be a cost issue. will look into that when the time comes.

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