My ortho appointment's coming up soon and I'm still undecided about retainers. Fixed ones seem convenient (can't lose 'em, lol), but removable sounds easier to clean. Anyone have experience with either type? Curious about comfort and maintenance mostly.
Had both types at different points, and honestly, it's a bit of a trade-off. Fixed retainers are great for peace of mind—no midnight panic searching under the bed for a lost retainer (been there, done that...). But flossing around them can be a real hassle at first. Removable ones are definitely easier to clean, but you gotta be disciplined about wearing them consistently. Comfort-wise, fixed retainers felt weird initially, but after a week or two, I barely noticed them. Just depends on your priorities and habits really.
Totally get where you're coming from on the flossing hassle with fixed retainers, that was a real pain for me at first too. But honestly, after a while you figure out little tricks to make it easier (threader floss was a lifesaver). For me, removable retainers were tempting because of cleaning convenience, but the thought of losing or breaking them—and the cost of replacements—made fixed retainers a smarter choice budget-wise. Sounds like you've got a good handle on the pros and cons already though...either way, you'll adapt quicker than you think.
I had removable retainers at first and honestly, the convenience factor was great...until I accidentally tossed mine wrapped in a napkin at lunch. Replacements weren't cheap. Switched to fixed retainers afterward—flossing was tricky initially, but threaders really do help a ton.
