I have had them for 5 years but they don't hurt and I just had an overbite but I just had the top and then later the bottom and then rubberbands. They just make your teeth sore. Just can't eat hard stuff just soft and easy to just suck on and swallow. I got them off Feb 7 and it feels great to get them off and now that your teeth will be fine but only if you wear the retainers though, if you don't then back to braces.