I get where you’re coming from—my son had the clear trays for a while, and honestly, he managed to keep them intact longer than I expected. He did misplace them once (left them in his lunchbox for two days...gross), but they survived. I actually found the Hawley trickier because it rubbed his gums and he’d complain nonstop. Speech-wise, the trays were less noticeable for him, especially with presentations. Maybe it’s just one of those “pick your battles” things, but I’d take the risk of losing a tray over constant sore complaints.
That lunchbox story made me laugh—I've seen some pretty gnarly retainers come back after a few days in hiding. Once, a kid brought in his clear tray that had somehow fused with a piece of gum... and I still don't know how he managed that. You're right though, the Hawley ones (the wire and acrylic) can be a pain for some kids. I remember one patient who would come in every month with red, irritated gums, and his mom swore he was cleaning it properly. Sometimes it's just the way the plastic sits on their palate or rubs the tissue—everyone's mouth is a little different.
But I do get nervous about those clear trays going missing. It's like they're designed to disappear the moment you set them down—one minute they're there, next minute they're gone. But if it means fewer sore spots and less complaining at home, maybe that's worth the occasional scavenger hunt under the couch cushions...
It's like they're designed to disappear the moment you set them down—one minute they're there, next minute they're gone.
Seriously, how do people not lose their minds over this? I swear, every time I took mine out to eat, I’d spend the next ten minutes panicking that it was gone for good. Do those little cases actually help, or am I just doomed to misplace everything? Also, does anyone else worry about bacteria building up in the clear trays? I feel like no matter how much I clean them, I’m still paranoid.
Do those little cases actually help, or am I just doomed to misplace everything?
I used to think the cases were pointless, but honestly, they made a huge difference for me. I had the same problem—always setting my retainer down on a napkin at lunch and then freaking out when I couldn’t find it. The case is just one more thing to remember, but after losing two trays (and paying for replacements), I got in the habit. As for bacteria, I get what you mean, but I just rinse mine with warm water and use those cleaning tablets a couple times a week. Haven’t had any issues so far.
I’ve seen a lot of people lose retainers just from wrapping them in napkins, so I’d say the case is worth it, even if it’s a hassle. Honestly, I wish more folks would use them—less stress for everyone. But I’m curious, for those of you who have both plastic and wire retainers, do you find one type easier to keep track of?
I hear people say the clear plastic ones are more likely to get tossed by accident, probably because they’re almost invisible if you leave them out. On the flip side, the wire ones seem sturdier, but I’ve had patients complain they’re more noticeable and sometimes harder to clean. Have you noticed a difference in how often you misplace one versus the other? Or is it just a matter of getting into the habit?
I always recommend rinsing before putting anything back in the case, but I know not everyone does that every time. Does anyone actually carry their cleaning tablets around, or is that just me being overly cautious?