I am an adult and had braces for 2 yrs and 3 months. My top teeth were straight but my bottoms were a little crooked plus I had an extra tooth on the bottom. Also I had a slight underbite. I went to 3 ortho's before I choose him. All of which told me I would have to have jaw surgery. Hes the only one who said I would not have to have jaw surgery and thats why I went to him. During the 2 yrs I was always afraid to talk to him because he had a scarastic personality and was always in a rush to get people out. He has been practicing for 30 yrs but I always felt like he never really looked that closely at my teeth (according to how my friends told me about their ortho, mine seemed not that good).

I got my braces off yesterday. The underbite is gone but I noticed that one of my teeth on the bottom is still kindof back compared to the other teeth. He did pull that extra tooth and i have a small gap on the side of my mouth but I dont understand how he could of taken the braces off knowing that my bottom teeth are not completely straight. A few coworkers noticed the tooth thats not lined up with the rest of them. I went to him today and voiced my concern and he told me that the retainers will fix it. He said he usually fixes the retainer models (which i doubt). I get my retainers next week. I really dont think the retainer will fix the problem since retainers are meant to retain the current shape of the teeth. I am upset and want him to fix it. By law does he have to fix it? How can he fix it now that my braces are off??? I really would like some input if any one has had the same experience or if there are dentists/orthos on this site. Thanks

Inspired

I also wanted to mention that he does not do permanent retainers. So I have no clue how the retainers will fix my tooth as he claims.

flossie

Sometimes the retainer wire can be bent to move a tooth into place.

Inspired

really the retainer can move the tooth? Is it better to have a normal retainer or a built in retainer? My ortho does not use built in retainers.

flossie

Most orthodontists will use a permanent retainer on the lower teeth and a removable on the upper. Once all of the lower teeth are in place a permanent wire should be cemented in to prevent relapse if there comes a day when you stop wearing your retainer.

Inspired

hes not using a permanent at all. He is only using removal retainer on both upper and lower. Should I be ok with the removal as long as I wear my retainer in the night?

jillianleab

If your instructions are to wear your retainer only at night, you should be ok. A lot of times orthos tell their patients to wear their retainers full-time for six months to a year, and then only at night. This allows the teeth to "set" in their new positions. However, if you were given stable results at the end of your treatment, it might only be necessary to wear them at night. You can always ask if you can wear them more. Don't let your ortho scare you; you are paying him for his services - he's there to answer your questions and fix your teeth. You're doing HIM a favor by being his patient! Stand up for yourself if you need to, but you need to have your concerns addressed. It might be helpful to book a 15 min appointment with him for no treatment, but to discuss your results in his office. That way he will have a committed time frame for you.

Remember too that a "permanent" retainer isn't really permanent; it's just not removable. Often times after a few years the glue wears down and it pops off, or they simply break. If you are an adult with braces you will probably have to wear your retainers for life no matter what because your jaw is not still "growing" like a child's. This makes you more prone to relapse and shifting.

If in the end your teeth do not retain their proper position and your ortho is unable to correct your issues with the retainer (which is done frequently, especially with Hawley retainers), you might have to have the braces put back on. Ethically, he should not charge you for this, but legally he can do what he wants.

Inspired

I have not recieved my retainers, I got my braces off 2 days ago and will get my retainers next week. My ortho does not use "permanent retainers". Hes a bit old fashoned i guess. I hope he can fix my tooth on the bottom. Its not noticeable to people until I point it out. However I notice it and it was one of the reasons why I wanted braces in the first place. I dont mind wearing my retainers 24/7, I guess I will see what he tells me. Are Hawley retainers permanent? He would not have any legal ramifications on this tooth? Thanks again for all of your help.

flossie

A Hawley appliance is a removable appliance. I agree with Jillianleab in regards to discussing the results of your othodontic tx with your orthodontist. You have paid a lot of money to have your teeth straightened you should be happy with the results.

jillianleab

Hawley retainers are the "traditional" retainer; here's a link to some images:

hawley retainer - Google Image Search

They have the wire across the front of the teeth which can be bent to move the teeth if they shift.

Essix retainers look like Invisalign trays;

essix retainer - Google Image Search

These can also be used to move teeth my putting "bumps" in the plastic.

Typically essix retainers have a limited shelf life - after 6 months or so they aren't as tight, become brittle or break. This doesn't happen in all cases, but it can. Hawley retainers are a little more sturdy if they are well taken care of.

Some orthos choose not to use bonded (permanent) retainers because it leads people to believe they don't have to wear their regular retainers, and that's not the case. The bonded retainer provides EXTRA retention, but alone does not provide ENOUGH retention to keep the teeth from shifting. Beyond that, they normally only go over the front four teeth, which means your other teeth aren't being retained at all (if you don't wear the removable ones) and are more likely to shift. A lot of orthos don't use bonded retainers, it seems to be a personal preference. Many, however, will apply one if the patient asks/insists.

Unfortunately he really has no legal obligation to fix the problem tooth, but it would be the ethical thing for him to do. I would venture to guess he will attempt to fix it because it ruins his reputation if he doesn't. You should talk to your ortho, however, because there may be a reason the tooth isn't where it is supposed to be; adults seldom receive "perfect" results. It could be your wear patterns don't allow the tooth to go into proper position, in which case shaving or IPR might be an option. Then again, sometimes wear is wear and it's too bad to "repair".