Orthodontic retainers

It should not be surprising for those of you who had undergone orthodontic treatments in the past to know what a retainer is; otherwise, it is an appliance used to hold teeth in its new position after orthodontic treatments.

The retainer only needs to be worn a night once a week depending on the person's condition. The teeth is always shifting back to its default, unmoved, and prior to treatment position and the retainer helps to prevent that likelihood. This can be proven whenever it is time to put back on the retainers as you will feel a tightness of misfitting as if like your index fingers to your pinky fingers invertly coming together (see illustration below).

I have always felt this and I still wonder when will the time come when I will be liberated from putting on retainers week after week. Once I asked, "Was the orthodontic treatments effective at all? I mean, if so, why did the orthodontist advised to apply retainers for the rest of my life?" I freaked a little at his last few words. Well, then I told myself that will not happen because then I could have just lost all of my precious teeth and already had a set of detachable fake teeth (like those of old people's) as I approach my golden years.

Over the years, I realised something which I think is significant -- that the body remembers what has been moved and what has NOT be moved; OR what has been different. This body memory has been giving me nightmares about my teeth! I know it sounds very odd but I believe this condition can be related to The Invisible Cripple Syndrome. Often when I do get nightmares about my teeth, I will almost always be in a situation when I will feel a virtual lost or impartial lost of my oral assets OR that horrible feeling of a loosened teeth that is due to come off in all of my teeth and the only thing that is holding them back is its nerve and vein endings still attached inside the gums.

Already in that condition in my dream, to make matters worse, the dream follows a desire to eat; i.e. invited to a party, just stepped into a restaurant, offered some sort of food etc. However, I know (consciously and subconsciously) that that "loosened teeth" condition (teeth falling out) will soon subside and I can do whatever I want with my mouth.

This is the only nightmarish dream that I remember and may seem to be common among teenagers but I attribute this to the fact that the body remembers what it was like before and wants it to be in default its position but it can't because it is being controlled and maintained by this appliance called retainer.

After all, agonies such as the above was for the sake of a good and confident smile. Worth it? In the long run, yes, it is worth it.