Braces/retainers?

[LFBB]

Our youngest now 13 had braces on for awhile up until 1 year ago. After the braces she had to wear a retainer at night, well after a few months she lost her retainer, we replaced it, now (1 year) she lost the replacement. Not wanting to shell out another $350 I'm leaning towards not replacing it.

Question is, do you have any experience with not using a retainer, how much do they actually do to keep teeth correct? If it's really needed we'll spend the money yet again, but if it' seems near meaningless I don't see the point. Anyone?

[KMac]

Our youngest now 13 had braces on for awhile up until 1 year ago. After the braces she had to wear a retainer at night, well after a few months she lost her retainer, we replaced it, now (1 year) she lost the replacement. Not wanting to shell out another $350 I'm leaning towards not replacing it.

Question is, do you have any experience with not using a retainer, how much do they actually do to keep teeth correct? If it's really needed we'll spend the money yet again, but if it' seems near meaningless I don't see the point. Anyone?

Sounds like what happened to my son.. Teeth became unaligned after about 6 months with no retainer. Today, it looks like he never had braces. My daughter has the permanent retainer on top and bottom.. Behind the teeth.. Well worth the money.

[LFBB]

OUCH, that sucks, we'll have to break down I guess.

[KMac]

Yep. I paid for 4 sets of braces. The only one that has really nice teeth is my daughter. Middle and youngest boy look okay, but the oldest, man.

[TheRealMacGyver]

Below is exactly what I was going to say. They will get crooked just as fast as they got straight. Try invisiline or its competition

[Sans Peur]

Yep, get another retainer or all the previous money is down the drain. I have paid for 4 sets of braces along with a couple of dental surgeries. My daughter lost her retainer twice and didn't seem to care. When she lost the second one I made her pay for it by doing chores. I literally put a piece of paper on the fridge and everytime she did a chore she had to write it down. I would put the price next to it and show how much was left owed.

She never lost another after that and neither of the other two lost one ever. They didn't want to have to work for it.

[LFBB]

Wife and I talked it over, my daughter already has the money, It will bug me to take it from her (It will be most of what she thinks she has) but lessons must be learned. Thanks

[Lprizman]

Replace it...gaps will appear...where it until full maturity

I wish I did...and my brother...get it done

[LFBB]

Thanks, I was hoping for a different answer but what can one do.

[jtw18]

Our youngest now 13 had braces on for awhile up until 1 year ago. After the braces she had to wear a retainer at night, well after a few months she lost her retainer, we replaced it, now (1 year) she lost the replacement. Not wanting to shell out another $350 I'm leaning towards not replacing it.

Question is, do you have any experience with not using a retainer, how much do they actually do to keep teeth correct? If it's really needed we'll spend the money yet again, but if it' seems near meaningless I don't see the point. Anyone?

Or don't get her another retainer and just hope she finds a sucker like me when she's older and pays for the braces months before divorce. Seriously, my ex didn't wear the retainers and all that work from a teenager her dad paid for went down the drain until I shelled out $6.5k. I'm so happy I can laugh about it now.

[Parker Yacht]

Question is, do you have any experience with not using a retainer, how much do they actually do to keep teeth correct? If it's really needed we'll spend the money yet again, but if it' seems near meaningless I don't see the point. Anyone?

This is me. One of the biggest mistakes in my life, not wearing my retainer.
Please, spend the money.