Just like Hawley retainers you need to get used to them. In the first few days there may be speach problems. If you excersice a lot by reading loud speach will improve fast. Big advantage of 'Hawley retainers with brackets' is that you can eat with them, just like you can eat with Hawely retainers. An other advantage is there is no plastic between upper and lower theeth. Mine are holding pretty strong, I can use elastics between upper and lower jaw.