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[deleted] t1_jav4xe1 wrote

Reply to comment by MildElevation in If teeth are mounted in sockets in the jaw bone, how do braces move them around? Do the sockets move with them? by MyCodesCumpie-ling

Does this mean I can finally stop wearing my retainer after 15 years?

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tnew12 t1_javl4vr wrote

If you want your teeth to be where they are, absolutely not. You signed up for a life of retainers

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Toothbinch t1_javskec wrote

Dentist here. Depends on how your teeth were before you got your braces. If they had massive spacing and rotation, then they will likely slowly go back to what they were. It’s so variable person to person that we always say wear your retainer nightly for life

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Mountaingiraffe t1_jaw48x2 wrote

Just a bit off topic, but how do you view the mostly cosmetic reasons to get retainers at like 16 years old? Those things hurt enormously as a kid, and being too young to really have an informed say on things. Everyone also had them back 20 years ago.

I had a talk with someone and they remarked that you could see them as a form of child abuse if done just for cosmetics. (I had a little overbite and the orthodontist said it could wear away the back of my upper front teeth eventually)

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Toothbinch t1_jawc935 wrote

What you’re describing sounds more like someone trying to prevent wear with a retainer as a guard more than actually used as a retainer. Not abuse and can be really important to protecting your teeth. Wear is more than just cosmetic when it’s a chronic thing that happens for a long time

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darrellg_ t1_jazodka wrote

Would you mind answering the real question he asked about how prevalent it was about 20 years ago and used as a cosmetic device for developing children? If not it is fine. I just wonder how the practice has changed in time.

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MoonieNine t1_jaw8zt0 wrote

DON'T stop wearing your retainers. Wear them at least 3 or 4 night a week. I stopped wearing mine after my puppy got a hold of them, and figured my teeth were fine. My teeth then shifted SO GRADUALLY that I didn't really notice until a year later when I REALLY looked at my teeth and the damage was done. They're not horrible, but they're definitely not straight like they were, and my one side tooth bugs me now. I had new retainers made and wear them at least 3 nights a week and always will.

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Speed_Alarming t1_javyjy1 wrote

You can stop any time. It will stop doing its job around the same time.

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lucidrage t1_jaw3uwu wrote

If you're close to retirement age then you might as well. When do teeth start to fall out?

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