Honestly, I get where you’re coming from about the wire popping off. Happened to me once after biting into a crusty baguette—bad call. Had to scramble for an ortho appointment before my teeth started to budge. But yeah, not having to remember a plastic retainer every night is a huge relief. Did your insurance help with the cost at all? For me, it only covered part of it, but I figured the fewer replacements, the better.
Totally get wanting to avoid the hassle of a nightly retainer, but honestly, I’ve found the plastic ones way less stressful. My bonded wire popped off twice—once on popcorn, once for no reason—and both times it was a scramble to fix. At least with the clear trays, if you lose or break one, your teeth don’t instantly start shifting. Insurance barely covered either option for me, but I just feel more in control with the plastic version, even if remembering it is a pain sometimes.
At least with the clear trays, if you lose or break one, your teeth don’t instantly start shifting.
That’s interesting—my dentist always warned me that even a day or two without my tray could cause movement. Maybe it’s different for everyone? I had a bonded wire for years and honestly, I kind of liked not having to remember anything at bedtime, but it did make flossing a nightmare. Did you ever have issues with the trays cracking or getting gross over time? I feel like I’m always cleaning mine...
Interesting point about the trays—my orthodontist was super strict about not skipping even a night, so I always assumed any gap would mean my teeth would shift. Maybe it depends on how much your teeth wanted to move in the first place? For me, the clear trays definitely get gross if I don’t clean them every day. I use a mix of dish soap and a soft toothbrush, but sometimes they still get that cloudy look. I’ve cracked a couple too, usually when I’m trying to pop them out in a hurry.
Honestly, the cost of replacing a tray is kind of annoying compared to just having the wire. But then again, flossing with the wire was such a pain that I ended up buying those little threader things in bulk. Did you ever figure out a good way to keep the trays from smelling weird after a while? Or is that just something we all deal with?
Plastic trays are so hyped, but honestly, I think the wire retainer is way more cost-effective if you’re someone who tends to lose or break stuff (which is definitely me). I get that flossing with the wire is annoying—I’ve broken a few threaders in frustration—but at least there’s no “oh no, I stepped on my tray, now I owe $150” moment. And yeah, the smell with the plastic trays is real. I tried those fancy cleaning tablets, but they add up fast. Vinegar and water helped a little, but not enough to justify the hassle.
I know people love being able to take trays out to eat, but I’d rather deal with a bit of awkward flossing than constantly worrying about cracking or misplacing something that expensive. Plus, I swear my teeth feel more stable with the wire. The only upside for trays, in my opinion, is for people who can’t stand the look of the wire or need to play instruments or something. Otherwise, financially, the wire wins for me.