Traditional Orthodontic Retainers Are Insufficient, Thanks to My EDS

Last week, I went to the dentist for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. I had my regular cleaning just before everything shut down last year, and then dentists were either closed or working at reduced capacity for months.

After my fall appointment was canceled, I joined a waiting list and finally got an appointment. Thankfully, as a teacher, I’m also fully vaccinated, which made me feel more comfortable going as well.

Going back a bit further in time, I had Invisalign treatment about two years ago to align my teeth. I had braces as a teenager, but my teeth had shifted since then and put me at risk of future problems. I wasn’t thrilled about doing the treatment, but I knew it was in my best interest.

My dentist told me I should aim to wear my retainers for about 20 hours per day, which is difficult to do. You can only drink water with them in, and if you eat anything, you have to brush your teeth before you can wear them again. As someone with an active lifestyle, this proved difficult for me.

However, I quickly realized that I didn’t need to wear them that long for my teeth to shift. I found that just wearing them at night was enough for me to progress from one retainer to the next, so that’s what I did. My dentist had never treated a patient with Invisalign who also had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, so this was unexpected. After a bit of research, I found that rapid tooth mobility is common in EDS patients.

When it comes to fixing tooth problems with orthodontia, this can expedite things, but I found that it works the other way as well. After finishing treatment, you’re supposed to wear retainers at night to keep teeth from relapsing. I was pretty good about doing that, and only missed an occasional day here or there. Then, I badly broke my finger and needed urgent surgery last September.

As a result, I didn’t wear my retainer for about five days. For most people, that would not have been an issue. But my teeth had shifted enough that my retainers no longer fit. Then, due to COVID-19, I couldn’t get back to see my dentist.

When I finally got in last week, my dentist was astounded that in six months, my teeth have reverted almost to where they were prior to doing Invisalign. He said he’d never seen teeth move so quickly — and since he’s about to retire, that’s saying something!

Luckily, the technician was able to fit me in for a new Invisalign scan while I was there for my cleaning, so that we can order a new set of retainers. This time, after we finish and my teeth are properly aligned, my dentist plans to put in a permanent retainer — basically a wire glued to the back of my teeth — to keep the same thing from happening again.

While I’m frustrated that I have to do the process over again, I’m thankful that revisions for five years are included in the original cost and that we have a plan to prevent another relapse. I can either be annoyed by the effects of my EDS or be glad that if I have to do it again, at least I don’t have to wear my retainers nearly as much as most people. And if given the choice, I’d rather choose the bright side and keep on smiling!

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