Teen Dd's teeth crooked again after braces

[Etainagain]

DD17 had NHS braces fitted on upper and lower teeth a couple of years ago. When removed, her teeth looked perfect. She was given NHS retainers to wear at night. She promptly lost one (classic teen thing of taking it out to eat and putting in a tissue instead of the retainer box and tissue getting thrown away) and we paid for a new one. When it happened again, we made her pay out of her savings (money we'd put away for her). This time, the Orthodontist suggested a fixed retainer instead of a removable one for her upper teeth. We didn't think to ask whether one could be fitted to her bottom teeth and it was never suggested to us. Dd then lost the retainer for the bottom teeth and didn't tell us for a couple of months. By this time her teeth had started to move again and we made her pay for a new retainer to stop further movement. When she lost the bottom retainer yet again, she didn't tell us at all and when I found out months later, she refused to return to the Orthodontist because she was frightened about being told off. This was all around GCSE time and with other things going on, it was forgotten about (my fault). Her bottom teeth are now in a terrible state (completely crooked) and possibly worse than before. When DD2 had her braces removed by same Ortho, she was immediately given the option of free NHS retainers or paying for fixed braces for both upper and lower teeth. We were happy to pay as this seemed like a much more sensible option given our past experience with DD1. At the last visit with DD2, I mentioned DD1's very wonky bottom teeth and she said that she will have to have her teeth done again. She looked a bit shocked when I said that DD1 would have to pay for this herself, but it would be hard for us to find the money (could sacrifice annual holiday though). It is such a pity that we weren't offered fixed retainers in the first place, or at least after the first retainer was lost, but there may be a good reason for this (are they quite new?). Would it be better for DD to have this treated now that she is still a teenager, rather than wait years until she can afford it? Should we try and find ways to finance this? DH says it is DD's fault and she'll have to pay for treatment herself when she is older.

Please take her back now. Exactly the same thing happened to me, but the ortho said it would be fine, not to worry etc. I found my lost retainer a few weeks later and couldn't get it back on, and my teeth are now shit, and I've had to have lots more fillings in my front teeth because of this.

If will annoy the hell out of her, but much better to sort now than her teeth continue to get worse.

I've had a lower fixed retainer for 21 years, so they can't be new. It is checked once a year by my dentist, but you should be seeing a dentist once a year anyway, so it's no more effort than not having one. My dentist said that if it ever comes off he'll put it back on, so it's for life. I have a particularly good one as it isn't attached to all of my lower front teeth, just the canines either end, so it's easier to keep clean than some. DH didn't have one and his lower teeth are a mess. DB had his one removed after quite a few years and his teeth have moved a bit.

I had a removable retainer for my top teeth. I think I had to start with it 24 hours a day and gradually reduce it has the bone grew to fix my teeth in place. It's long gone, but my top teeth don't seem to have moved back.

DS1 has fixed retainers top and bottom (not all the way round, just the front few teeth) PLUS plastic retainers top and bottom. So the fixed ones aren't the whole answer.

I think if she isn't bothered enough to put the work in to wear the plastic ones, she isn't bothered enough to make it worth the cost, either for you or for the NHS. She's not a little kid.

DD was told just wear removable retainer at night once a week but if she dosn't wear it for a third night it is too painful to sleep so has to do several short sessions during the day to bring her teeth back in line.Unless she is on a sleepover she wears them every night.
Others have never worn retainers and can still fit them in no problem, I think it depends on each individual.
I would be furious if DD diddn't comply after all the effort we and the NHS went to. Would be very torn in your situation.

I do feel really torn. As far as I'm aware, she did use the retainers when she had them but just kept losing the bloody things. We bought three retainer boxes, so there was always one around and no excuse for her to put her retainer in a tissue whilst she was eating. I don't want her dental health to suffer, but, equally, I don't want to just throw money away (plus time..we had to attend a lot of appointments). I looked at her Othodontist's website today and it seems there may be a payment plan.

Is there only ever one chance at getting braces on the NHS?

I was told to wear the retainers every night for rest of my life otherwise teeth would move.

I just wish we'd been told about fixed retainers from the outset, then all of this could have been avoided. I've no idea why we weren't offered the option with DD1 when she lost the first retainer but perhaps the Ortho thought we couldn't afford it and didn't want to put me on the spot.

I don't think fixed retainers would avoid it though, otherwise why do mine have both?