Should I tell dd that not wearing retainers makes the braces pointless?

[Lucyagain]

Hi,
My dd is due to have 4 teeth extracted for braces. She's now doubting herself because of the fact that she's been told to wear retainers for life afterwards. I just wanted to ask if theres anyone here who has had teeth extracted for braces and then not worn the retainers for most of their life so far, and found that the gaps have opened up again? She understands that her teeth will shift, but is it to the point that the gaps would be visible again? Also, she was saying she'd feel more comfortable going through with it if she could wear her retainers properly for several years and then not decide to wear it anymore or once in a blue moon type of thing, without the consequence of teeth shifting drastically or gaps opening up. I really dont know what to tell her, as I dont know anyone who has had any ortho work done.

She's been wanting braces not for cosmetic reasons, but mainly because she has a bad tooth that might need taking out anyway, and to prevent bad dental hygiene problems for the future. She's thinking of not doing it, but I thought it would be better for her to do it now while she's getting it for free?But is there point if she doesnt want to wear the retai ers for life and doesnt want the fixed ones either?

I really appreciate any replies! (Ps thread was on general health, but new to mn, so dont know if it might be better here?)

I had braces when I was 17 and stopped wearing my retainer so 10 years later I paid to have another as they'd moved enough for me to be very conscious of them. I've now got a fixed/permanent retainer as well as the one to wear overnight and if I don't wear the overnight one for a couple of nights, it's tight when I put it back in so even with the fixed retainer, they will move and I was warned about this.

I had very crooked teeth growing up due to a genetic condition and had 5 adult teeth removed to have braces fitted top and bottoms along with other orthodontic devices over 5 years from ages 11-16. I wore a retainer for a year afterwards, night times only. I'm very happy with the way they look now and there's been minimal movement over the last 22 years.

I had braces at 14 for two years. Wore my retainer for a year afterwards. Teeth went back to how they were.

I then had 2 teeth extracted at 19, one either side on top. Teeth got worse. I paid £4,000 for clear train tracks privately for 2 years. I'm now 2 years after having braces off, wear my retainers every second night and my teeth are still straight (thank goodness!)

Definitely wear retainers or it honestly does just make it a waste of time! If I forget to wear my retainers for 2 nights in a row when I next put them in they are tight and I can tell I didn't wear them - they move so quick!

Modern convention is a bonded thin wire permanent retainer attached to the front six teeth (canine to canine) and then an Essix retainer (like a clear plastic invisilign tray).

If the issue is gaps between the front teeth, the bonded retainer should do the job.

She definitely will need to wear a retainer for at least 2 years to ensure the teeth settle into their new position.

Partly it depends on her age, if she is young and still growing, then they are more likely to settle well and stay put if she sticks with the retainer.

If she's older (trying to keep teeth that have settled into their adult position in a new position) its more likely she'll need to wear the retainer for life.

You just wear it overnight and it isn't a big deal.

I had braces with head gear etc in my teens. I did have a retainer, but lost it quite quickly. Mid 40s now and my teeth haven’t moved that much, although every new dentist is fascinated by my bite for some reason.

DS2 has braces and the plan says he will
finish with a permanent wire behind his teeth to keep them in place. I think if she won’t accept having retainers, it may be better not to start. I have to take time off work to take DS2 to all his booked appointments, as well as when there’s a repair needed. I will be chasing him to keep the retainer in - he’s been relatively compliant with it so far though, he was very self conscious about his teeth.

I’m 53 and in my teens had 4 teeth removed and a brace for probably about a year. They have never moved since, never had retainers.
Why don’t you ask the dentist?

Currently wearing braces 30 years after having my last lot off. In those days we weren't given retainers. I'll be getting wires behind my teeth this time. That's several thousand pounds I could have saved.

I stopped wearing my retainers at university. My wisdom teeth cane in and slowly my teeth moved and were awful by my 30s. I treated myself to £4K of orthodontics for my 40th birthday which was a major PITA. Wish I’d just worn the bloody retainers.

I'm an orthodontic dental nurse. Usually we tell patients that's they would need to wear the retainer full time for the first week, then night times only for the first year then at least 3 times a week if you want the teeth to stay straight.

All teeth move and will carry on moving without a retainer. The retainer is a thin gum shield worn at nights but only to be worn at bed times.

If you don't think she's ready then cancel the appointment, don't have 4 healthy teeth extracted from if your not going to be happy with the result or what she needs to do to maintain the result .

However if she is receiving nhs treatment and you decide to discharge her from treatment if she changes her mind the average waiting list for a new patient exam is 4 months and the average treatment waiting list is 2,5 years. Patients only can be offered nhs ortho is while they are under the age of 18 if the brace is not on by her 18th birthday then all treatment would then be on an adult private basis.
Hope this helps!

I didn't have teeth removed but I have a permanent retainer in my top teeth and had a removable one for the bottom. I didn't wear the bottom at all. They have twisted, don't look that bad but obviously not straight. I'm very thankful I have a permanent one on the top and if I could go back to 15 year old me and say put your bloody retainer in I would.

I had my braces off three years ago (I was 29 when I had them!) I wore retainers every night for one year, 3 nights a week for a year, 2 nights a week for a year and now I just wear them one night a week. It's SOOO worth it, even tho I hate them! Each week tho tbh they feel tight, so your teeth really do move in a very small amount of time.

People who have the wire at the back, how do you floss? And doesn't food get stuck in it?

Also somebody mentioned swallowing the wire 😖

When my friend/acquaintance lived in the Middle East she got her DH to get a set of veneers, which made his teeth look white and even, though in reality he apparently had horrible crooked teeth. She said he was too old (only in his 30s - to walk around with braces like a child)
My DH's teeth are very crooked(though healthy) and he'd never agree to braces though might to veneers, I imagine it's similar amounts of money, does anyone have any experience of that as an alternative to teeth being pulled out and having to wear retainers forever?
(Moved away and lost touch with that friend ages ago so can't ask her any more)

I'd definitely get a permanent retainer. Mine has been on my bottom teeth for 25 years with no issues. DH on the other hand has really wonky bottom teeth after having braces an no retainer.

About 12 years ago I suggested to my dentist that I would like the retainer removed. He refused and said if it came off he'd expect to replace it.

My permanent retainer is particularly good as it is only attached to my two canines, so it is easier to keep clean than many.

Had teeth out and removable brace followed by fixed braces for a couple of years as a teen. Mum and I were told to make an appointment for retainers but never did.

Now mid 40s my teeth have definitely moved back. I really wish we’d gone back for that appointment but had no idea how important it was.

I had 2 teeth removed behind my canines (although I wish I didn't now, as it's left me with a narrow smile and flat top lip...)

I stopped using the retainer a year after braces removed. They have moved a little. But very straight still

If you were to need an MRI isn't that delayed by having to remove a fixed retainer?

I had fixed braces and the head gear. Wore a retainer all the time for a year then just a night for a couple of years very little movement

I have 2DC that have had braces,I has no previous experience so was surprised to learn they would need to wear retainers indefinitely a couple of nights a week to stop teeth from moving back,
However orthodontist was absolutely right , DD1 gave up wearing retainers after a year, nagged her to do it but you can't tell a teenager anything and in the end her retainer no longer her fitted easily , 3 years after having her brace removed her teeth are now crooked, not as bad as they were before treatment but are definitely moving back to their natural place. DS has used retainer consciously and 2 years later his teeth are still perfect. So using a retainer is essential. Feel sad all the effort, time and discomfort of straightening DDs teeth has been wasted☹️ I'm hoping they don't move anymore !

I had teeth out then braces (removable with elastics that stretched across the front of the teeth) but no retained (don't think they existed as such back in the early 80s?). This lunchtime I'm spending over £4k to have train tracks fitted to sort out the twisted mess that my teeth currently are. Braces will be followed by fixed retainers plus removable retainers.

DD2 had teeth out then train tracks and got fixed retainers (all on the NHS) but DD3 only has removable retainers (that she stops wearing, the teeth move a bit, she starts wearing again, then complains that they hurt - well duh!)

@Lilonetwo Ah yes, I've been hearing about that too, I'm so worried for her! She has the option to go private and they offered to do it without removing teeth, but obviously, it'll cost a fortune. Was it worth it for you in the end? I dont want her going for something she'll regret. She's just reaching her 18th birthday, so this really is her last chance to get it done for free.

At 16 I had 5 teeth removed, and braces put on for 4 years. At the end of the 4 years I had perfect teeth. I lost my retainer after a year, and never went back. At 30 my teeth were right back to square 1 and I had to get train tracks again for another 2 years, which really isn't ideal as an adult

@MarchingAnts when you say right back to square one, does that means the gaps from the extractions were visible? Also, I hope those 2 years again weren't too bad for you! I hear that there are more adults these days with braces, and besides, if anything, could always go for looking a bit younger ;)

My DD has just completed 4+ years of dental treatment (6 extractions, braces for 3.5 years then bridge fitted). She has top and bottom night time retainers and has been told to wear them indefinitely. She's 17. Frankly I'll be most upset if she undoes all that good work!!
Incidentally it was all NHS treatment and the service has been fabulous.

Both my dc have permanent wires. Now 16 years for Dd, job done
(Ds just had one of his recemented as had come lose after 11 years.)