Ew retainers!

[Karen]

You are doing the right thing and I'm very proud of you. It will only hurt for a few days, then it will feel fine. Same with talking ... you will sound normal again very shortly.

My son REFUSES to wear his retainer after putting up with braces for five years. It frustrates me to no end. Five years and five thousand dollars basically wasted.

So kudos to you !!!!!!

Tell him - my friends Dawn and Joleen had to redo the whole braces thing in their thirties - when it was way more embarrassing and abnormal to have braces than it is when you are in your teens. No kidding, Dawn came to our 20-year high school reuinion saying "yup, I know, JUST like high school, right? I have the braces and everything!"

[Freedom]

Oh, I WISH I had braces as a kid. My folks took me to two orthodontists, at the suggestion of my dentist. The dentist thought I needed braces. One orthodontist said braces and estimated $xxx cost. The other said no braces needed, and estimated $yyy cost. Which was less. So my parents went with the no braces. I had 2 or 3 different retainers over 3 years. Upper only.

The jerk really messed things up. I've been to orthodontists twice as an adult (once at about again 28, and again at about age 35) to see what can be done. But now the only hope is surgery, to split the upper jaw and spread it wider. The retainers actually pulled it in too narrow!!!! Insurance won't cover the cost as it is considered "cosmetic," even though I am losing my teeth at a very young age. It would be a 5 to 6 year process to get it all fixed tight. So I didn't do any of it. Now it is more than 10 years since I last looked into this. And guess what? I may have to have it done anyways, to fit dentures!!!! NOW it WILL be covered by insurance. UGH!

[Miss Z]

Aaw, I feel sorry for you, retainers are so irritating. Don't worry, your tongue will soon adjust and you'll be talking normally in no time. Won't take long before it feels odd when you take it out!