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FAQ: Retainers

Can I Use My Retainers Again?
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Retainers FAQ Dental Health Library Edward Leventhal

Question:
Retainer still in place 14 years later: When I was 18 I had full upper and lower braces removed and a bonded retainer fixed to the lower teeth.

I was told it would be removed 12 months later. I moved city in that time and when we phoned the dentist to ask what to do about the retainer, he said not to worry, it would eventually fall off.

Over the years, I have been to different dentists and none of them want to remove it - I am now 32 (!) and it is still fixed solidly. What can I do?

Will it even be safe to get it removed now? And why does everyone keep telling me it will fall off when 14 years later, it obviously won't! I'm really worried about this.

I can't floss between those teeth, although things are fine for now ... Visitor from London England United Kingdom UK

Answer:
An orthodontist ran an experiment.

After ten years in retention he removed the fixed lower retainers on a number of patients. A percentage of the patients had mild movement of the lower teeth.

Use a Sonicare tooth brush and leave the retainer alone. You do not have a problem .

Edward Leventhal, DDS
Baltimore Cosmetic Implant Dentistry
8860 Belair Road
Baltimore, MD 21236
(410) 256-7300

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