I have a retainer on my upper teeth, and my orthodontist said something the other day that I've never heard before so I'm researching if this is fact. He said that as we grow older, our teeth shift forward and most people approaching middle age need to get retainers to prevent problems later on. So we're looking at a retainer for my bottom teeth around the first of the year. I went into the one on top because of a gap I had, but that's also taking care of any of that shift problem there.

Does this sound like anything you've ever heard?

ABsolutely -- I'm experiencing that now with my bottom teeth. Despite the fact that I already went through braces, my bottom teeth are slightly crooked now -- not noticeable to others, but definitely to me :(.

I don't think braces are a permanent fix. It's totally possible for teeth to shift after a time. I believe my mom had braces and her's have shifted. They don't look bad or anything, but they aren't perfectly straight either. I had braces and then, because of how my teeth are, had to get a permanent bridge on both the top and bottom front teeth. I know that the rest of my teeth have shifted a little. The only way to keep your teeth perfectly straight is to get caps, veneers, or dentures! ;)

Michelle

I'm only 22 and my bottom teeth have shifted and got kind of crooked again. I got my braces off when I was 16, and even with wearing retainers at night, they still moved!

I also wore braces as a teenager. I wore my retainer for a few years after I got them off, but then got sick of wearing it. I'm 27 now and my teeth have since shifted a bit. It's definitely probably more noticeable to me than to others though. If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I would still be wearing my retainer now.

Definately. I had braces in high school and they've shifted forward a little. Like an overbite. I actually have a consultation in Nov for Invisalign.

I did some more research after posting here, and found over and over that that happens, and most of the sites said you'll pretty much be in retainers the rest of your life. At night, not 24/7 like I am now.

My teeth definitely shifted. I also had braces and a retainer as a kid. The weird thing is that when I had my braces removed my orthodontist said the small space between my two front teeth would always be there because of the natural shape of my teeth and that bonding would fix the gap. Well...after a few years I stopped using my retainer and my teeth shifted...and now I have no gap. :confused: Oh well, I guess it was a good shift for me. :)

Your teeth absolutely shift! I was really good about wearing my retainer for two years after I got my braces off at 14, but got progressively worse about wearing them. After freshman year of college (almost 19), I had to get a new set of retainers because my teeth had shifted and couldn't fit in the original retainers. Now I make sure to wear retainers at least twice a week for 'maintenance.' My boyfriend didn't wear his retainers after braces and his bottom teeth are noticeably crooked now.

For sure!
I had corrective braces and retainers for a few years in my early teens and now I'm 22 and my teeth have definately moved.
Top ones are still straight and pretty, but one of my bottom inciscors is slowly creeping backwards and sits behind the others. No gaps though so I'm okay with it for now.

I had over 7 years of dental work done. After all was said and done, my orthodontist told me that if i didn't wear my retainers at night (i have top and bottom ones), then my teeth would shift. He said something along the lines of teeth having a memory and they'll already remember where their original spot was. I notice that if i skip a night or 2 without wearing my retainers, my teeth hurt SOOO bad and sometimes it's a little difficult to get the retainers back on 'cuz the teeth had shifted.

Your teeth absolutely shift! I was really good about wearing my retainer for two years after I got my braces off at 14, but got progressively worse about wearing them. After freshman year of college (almost 19), I had to get a new set of retainers because my teeth had shifted and couldn't fit in the original retainers. Now I make sure to wear retainers at least twice a week for 'maintenance.' My boyfriend didn't wear his retainers after braces and his bottom teeth are noticeably crooked now.

I've been looking into getting a new set of retainers 'cuz i've had mine for about 8 years now and they look so disgusting (i didn't take care of them very well when i first got them). Did you just go to an orthodontist or did you have to go through your dentist first?

I just went to my orthodontist and they made the new molds for me.

Absolutely true! My dentist mentioned this to me about 10 years ago (in my 20's) and I blew it off.

I'm now 38, I have perfectly straight teeth, never had braces, and no cavities. Yes, mine have shifted a bit over the last few years, and this one front bottom tooth is now slightly crooked.

I got a retainer made at my dentist. It holds the teeth where they are so the shifting stops. A regular dentist does not correct teeth like this...only an ortho corrects teeth, but dentist can make these basic plastic retainers.

I think mine cost $75 full price (done at the same time as a dental cleaning/visit)...that was 2 years ago. Only took like 2 days to get it back. My insurance ended up covering $50 of it.

Forgot to add...I only have to wear it at night. Instructions were to wear it every night, but I only wear it about 1 night a week, and that's enough to keep my teeth where they are.

You know, it would've been REALLY great if my orthodontist had mentioned way back in the day that perhaps I should continue wearing my retainers for the rest of my LIFE :mad: ... my teeth wouldn't have shifted on the bottom had he dropped a hint.

That settles it. In January I'll get a bottom retainer added to my top retainer so I can REALLY sound like Elmer Fudd when I talk. :)

That settles it. In January I'll get a bottom retainer added to my top retainer so I can REALLY sound like Elmer Fudd when I talk. :)

LOL!! :)

That settles it. In January I'll get a bottom retainer added to my top retainer so I can REALLY sound like Elmer Fudd when I talk. :)

LOL!

Don't worry, you get used to it. :p