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Author Topic: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s  (Read 20935 times)

Offline Retainer101

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #30 on: 11. October 2021, 17:55:32 PM »
Had my appointment today. Went well. The dentist was interested to see if it would actually work as a habit breaker and I promised them a bottle of champagne if it did work! She also said that as it has occlusal coverage it can affect the bite as it is more of a brace than a retainer but I said I don’t have the habit when I sleep so I’ll wear my retainer at night and the brace sporadically during the day during times I normally bite my nails like watching tv or driving. She said I need to go back every 3-4 weeks to make sure it’s not detrimentally affecting my bite which I agreed to but she was intrigued to see if this works. Will go back to get the appliance in a few weeks when they call me in. Not sure if any of you bite your nails but if this works I shall keep you posted. If it does it will be the best investment I have made, if it doesn’t it’s not the most expensive thing to try.

Offline Retainer101

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #31 on: 21. October 2021, 16:36:10 PM »
Dentist called to say my appliance is here so I have booked my appointment for tomorrow! Slightly anxious about it now but also hopeful that this works. If it does it will be the best decision ever. If it doesn’t it will be a big waste of money. Fingers crossed

Offline bracessd

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #32 on: 21. October 2021, 16:53:58 PM »
Looking forward to seeing it!

Offline Retainer101

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #33 on: 24. October 2021, 22:10:41 PM »
 
This is the new appliance. It annoyingly doesn’t fit properly as the brace only touches one bottom tooth at the back so it will affect my bite if i don’t fix it. Have another appointment tomorrow to try and fix it or else will need to take new impression, this time too and bottom, to make sure they make it so it fits properly against my bottom teeth

Offline bracessd

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #34 on: 25. October 2021, 16:45:52 PM »
Very nice

Offline Retainer101

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #35 on: 25. October 2021, 18:02:10 PM »
I had to go back in today because it wasn’t fitting properly. They shaved a bit off but it’s still not right. I didn’t have the courage to ask them to do the moulds again but with the bottom set done too so they could better fit it to the bottom teeth. Will just see how I get on but I’m terms of working to stop me biting my nails it is already working which is good. If I can keep it up and it stops the habit fully I will be really happy. Just hard as I have to wear it during the day. I just wear my normal retainer at night because I don’t bite my nails at night. Will update in a few months if it’s worked just in case anyone else has this habit and has tried everything else that hasn’t worked. So far so good

Offline Retainer101

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #36 on: 30. October 2021, 22:47:45 PM »
Just thought I’d update on progress as this brace is working wonders. A week in and I have nails for the first time in 30+ years. It’s still early days but having tried everything else I really didn’t think a removable brace would be the thing that worked!! I know this is a braces forum and not a nail biting forum but if anyone else has the habit and wants to stop I really would recommend this. You can wear the brace when you know you normally bite your nails so you can manage most of the time to not have to wear it in awkward situations. I’ve been wearing it out a few times but not with friends or family and I don’t wear it at night or in meetings. It’s really not as much trouble as I thought it would be. Id love to hear if anyone else has this habit and would consider the same treatment. I would recommend it as a last resort for sure. It’s only been a week or so, so don’t want to get ahead of myself but it’s really shocking how much it’s worked.

Offline pseunym

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #37 on: 01. November 2021, 14:44:48 PM »
It seems to be an effective device and certainly a good looking one. Congrats!

Offline foobar

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #38 on: 16. November 2021, 01:05:08 AM »
I am also an avid nail biter ever since I remember (and I remember biting my nails back when I was 4 or 5 y/o). My parents tried everything back then without any success.

Having started my treatment with removable braces half a year ago and having gotten occlusal coverage (and quite a hefty one at that) I also noticed that I couldn't bite my nails anymore.
Over six years ago I got a night guard for my top teeth (~1mm occlusal coverage but on all teeth including the incisors) which was constructed in such a way that all teeth met the guard. I tried wearing that during the day when I'd normally bite nails. But all it took was a few days for me to find a spot where I could continue biting my nails...
Only now with just posterior bite planes I'm really unable to do so. I cut my fingernails for the first time ever a few weeks ago! That was such a crazy thing! The open space also reduces my lip biting a little, although not completely.

Unfortunately, as soon as I don't have the braces in, I instantly go back to subconsciously biting my nails. For example if I don't instantly put back in my braces after having finished eating and start working on stuff, I lose all fingernails again in the matter of an hour :( That's also why it took half a year for me to cut the nails for the very first time and why it'll probably about as long until it'll be able to cut them for the second time. I wish you more luck in that regard!

Offline Retainer101

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #39 on: 16. November 2021, 14:23:54 PM »
That’s really interesting to hear. I’ve had the brace about 6 weeks or so and I now have nails. The hardest part I am finding is cutting them as it’s not something I’m used to. I also have to file them or I would try to bite them again and i hate filing nails! I’ve also started picking the skin more and with nails it hurts a lot more so that is a negative side affect I also need to overcome but I’m
So impressed how well the brace has worked for me. I don’t wear it at night or in meetings or when eating, I manage to wear it out and about where I know I won’t bump into people I know. So going to the shop or to get a coffee is fine to wear it.
It still doesn’t fit perfectly which is annoying but it is doing the job so I’m ok with it at the mo. I wish they had molded it more to my bottom teeth. I might ask next time I go back. But on the whole it seems to be working really well and I’ve not bitten a nail now for 6 weeks which I have never done before so it’s really something worth considering if you have the same issue. You just have to be quite good at wearing it at times you know you normally bite your nails and keep it in.

So far so good. I’m really really happy and surprised.

Offline foobar

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #40 on: 09. January 2022, 18:34:20 PM »
As a warning to make sure that it won't happen to you: Due to my strong clenching, the posterior occlusal coverage intruded all of my molars resulting in a posterior open bite. My bite planes were removed from my lower plate and an anterior bite plate added to my top one to extrude the molars again.
Even that one resulted in my incisors intruding quite quickly, which means my ortho now told me to only wear my braces at max 12 hours per day. RIP my fingernails, which are suffering strongly since then.

Although my ortho said that she has never seen anything like that in her whole career before, as a word of advice, if you notice that your teeth / molars not fitting together perfectly anymore, be sure to make an appointment and let your ortho check it as soon as possible.

Offline Sparky

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #41 on: 09. January 2022, 18:53:37 PM »
If you simply want to stop your nail biting (yeah, ok, I realise that was simply the EXCUSE!!) then a pair of simple Essix retainers will stop you biting your nails! Not as nice as a fancy removable appliance though :-(

Offline Retainer101

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #42 on: 09. January 2022, 23:47:09 PM »
Essix are easily breakable. I was offered that first ad discussed with the dentist but I thought they would break too often and be more expensive in the long run.

Offline Sparky

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #43 on: 10. January 2022, 15:49:49 PM »
If you add up the time wasted with non fitting Hawleys, the essix is probably no worse!


Offline Retainer101

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Re: I got a hawley retainer in my 30s
« Reply #44 on: 10. January 2022, 23:03:44 PM »
I still have the same retainer though, so it’s hopefully going to be cheaper. Fingers crossed it won’t break whereas, having spoken to the dentist, the essix one would be more prone to breaking and easier to lose it so could end up costing more. Hawley Retainer felt like the stronger and last longer