Permanent retainer removal after over 20 years?

I definitely like to get patients out of retainers after such a long time, however; some relapse is still a potential.  I would have a comfortable and well fitting retainer fabricated at least for night time use to be safe as long term relapse is still a possible problem.  I would suggest that you see an orthodontist to determine the best design for your situation. 

If you want to remove a fixed bonded retainer, it is important to note that you should still wear a removable retainer minimally at night to keep your teeth from moving. With our without orthodontic treatment, teeth have a tendancy to move through out one's lifetime. To maintain your orthodontically corrected occlusion, either maintain your current bonded/fixed retainer, or if you choose to have it removed, have a removable retainer fabricated to maintain your teeth's current position. There are different types of removable retainers to choose from as well.