Search Results: retainer

I'm missing a pair of teeth in my upper jaw (lateral incisors). It's congenital, they just didn't grow out. Generally, there are two ways of treating this condition:
- canine substitution, i. e. they push your teeth to the center to close the gaps, or
- replacing the missing teeth with implants.
I chose canine substitution. I had been wearing braces for four years and retainers for about ten additional years in total (still wearing them). Now I'm pretty much at the end of my treatment. I feel that if this is supposed to be the end result, it's grossly inadequate to what an end result should look like - but maybe I'm just being overly critical of myself, which is why I want to know your opinion.

I'm thinking of getting implants for the incisors after all. That would mean wearing braces again for several years (I'd have to reopen the gaps I've been trying to close all this time). It should help also with the crooked teeth in my lower jaw (those were caused mostly by the opposite canines being where they aren't supposed to be). It would be a lot of work, so I'm a little hesitant whether or not it's worth it. What do you think?