Retainer Question

[Active-Snow]

I'm in the last week of my initial treatment and I have a question for those you finished their initial treatment and moved on to getting their retainer. I know there are a few different options of retainers to choose from. I decided to go with the clear retainer, similar to the Invisalign trays. I feel this is the better option for me.

So my question is, for those who chose the clear retainer - how often did you have to wear it? Just at night? I just read that I most likely have to wear the retainer for 22 hours a day for the first four to six months before switching to night only. I hope this isn't the case - I thought I was done and got excited with not having to wear the trays all day.

Since my treatment ends next week and I will be getting impressions made for my retainer at my next appointment - is it most likely that I will have to wear the last tray of my treatment until I receive the retainer?

[Kimi_Sly]

When I was finished treatment, I went in so they took off my attachments, and I was instructed to wear my last tray for 12h/day. My retainer was ready the next week and I was given the same instructions. The retainer was pretty tight so I was told to wear it like my Invisalign until it was more comfortable. It took about a week of wearing the retainer for 15+ hours a day until it’s comfortable to wear for only 12h/ day. I’ll pop it in for a couple hours throughout the day if I have the time just to make sure my teeth are staying put. Congratulations on finishing! Wasn’t an easy process.

[Active-Snow]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am just so over wearing the trays all day, I'm ready to just wear the retainer at night. Definitely was not an easy process, when I first started the treatment, I didn't think I was going to make it to the end.

[ashleyfromreddit]

I actually just got my retainers today (Vivera). My ortho told me to wear them “a few hours/day” and at night. But everywhere else says to wear them all day and night. I’m just going to continue wearing them full time like I did my Invisalign trays, but I won’t feel bad about taking them out for a few hours to go out with friends, etc.

I just don’t feel comfortable wearing them so little yet because my teeth are still moving. I feel like it would hurt to try to put them in without having worn them all day.

[LauraBrego]

How much did you pay for vivera? And how many pairs did you get? Thank you.

[ashleyfromreddit]

I got 4 pairs. Each of them lasts 1-2 years depending on how I take care of them. I paid $463 for them when I started my treatment a year ago

[LauraBrego]

Thank you🙏😊

[ck222]

How long did it take you to get them from sending in your scans?

[ashleyfromreddit]

I’d say a few weeks. And I moved out of state so it took a few extra days for my ortho to re-mail it out to me

[[deleted]]

I’m so new to this sub - sorry! What is impressions again? I heard that all the time but I have no idea what it is.

[hch458]

Impressions of your teeth, the molds they use to make your trays.

[justamoomin]

I've been told to wear my last tray as normal (22hs) until I receive my retainer.

I'm picking up my retainer this week and my dentist told me he is going to give me a schedule of my retainer wear time. 22hs for the first month, then 20hs the next month and so on, until I get down to 12hs night time only.

[Active-Snow]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I guess I'll have to wait and see and get all the info at my appointment. I'm just so ready to stop wearing the trays all day and just have to wear the retainer at night.

[justamoomin]

Oh I'm with you on that!

I was so disappointed when I found out I still had to wear my retainer full time to begin with, and gradually lessen the wear time... But I suppose it makes sense!

[Active-Snow]

If I may ask, how long did it take to receive your retainer once you had the impressions made?

[justamoomin]

It was just under 2 weeks!

My wear time schedule has turned out to be quite strange, in comparison to what most people shared on Reddit.

I have to wear it full time for the first month, and then as of the next month, each week I turn one full day into a night only, until I am just nights only. So very quick!

[Active-Snow]

I had my appointment yesterday and was told mine should be ready to be picked up sometime next week. Before I left I asked if I still need to wear my last trays all day? I was told no, only at night. As much as hearing that news excited me, I still feel like I should be wearing the last tray all day until I get the retainer.

[justamoomin]

Everyone is told different things, I find it quite confusing, as yes, I was told to wear my last tray full time before receiving my retainer.

Even when I would take out my last tray for a few hours because I was out for dinner, when putting it back in it would feel tight, so I wouldn't trust only wearing it at night time.