Help! I’ve Lost My Retainer, What Next?
Just like teeth braces or Invisalign aligners, retainers are an equally important component of orthodontic treatment. While braces and aligners are active appliances, they exert force on the teeth to move and realign them; retainers are passive appliances. This means that retainers do not exert any force on the teeth. However, they perform an essential function; they prevent the teeth from going back to their previous position. Hence, wearing one’s aligners to the dentist’s instructions is crucial for optimal results.
However, while wearing aligners, often a situation arises when one loses or breaks their aligners. If you are also going through a similar situation, and you’re wondering what to do next, this blog is for you. So, read to find what steps to take if you lose or break your aligners.
What Do I Do If I Lose My Retainer?
One of the most common issues with removable aligners is their loss or breakage. If you have lost your aligner, the first thing to do is contact your orthodontist or dentist and ask for an appointment to get a replacement. Your dentist will make a digital impression of your teeth and send them to the dental laboratory to make the new retainers. If your treatment was done with invisalign aligners, you could wear your last aligner trays for the time being to prevent unnecessary tooth movement.
Will My Teeth Shift Back If My Retainer Broke?
The purpose of wearing retainers is to prevent your teeth from moving back to their old position. That is why dentists recommend that aligners are worn full-time for best results. If you have accidentally damaged your retainers and have not requested their replacement in a long time, there are chances that your teeth may move back to their old position. The longer the duration of using retainers, the greater would be the unwanted tooth movement. In some cases, the unwanted tooth movement is so significant that re-treatment is often needed.
Will My Teeth Move If I Don’t Wear My Retainers For One Night?
If you forget to wear your retainers for one night, it will not cause sufficient damage. This is because tooth movement is very slow and takes place over days and weeks. On the other hand, forgetting to wear one’s aligners for many days or weeks can cause significant tooth movement, resulting in the re-appearance of tooth misalignment and necessitating re-treatment.
Is It Possible To Go Without My Retainers For A Week?
It is not recommended to go without your retainers for a week. If so, your teeth will gradually start moving towards their old position. As a result, your retainers won’t fit over your teeth anymore. In extreme cases, the tooth movement is so significant that re-treatment may be needed to realign the teeth. Hence, one should wear their aligners as per the instructions of their dentist.
Will I Be Fine If I Don’t Wear My Retainer For 10 Days?
Not wearing your aligners even for one day is not recommended. Your dentist has to give you retainers to ensure your teeth hold their new positions. If you do not wear your aligners for 10 days, the teeth will gradually move back to their old, misaligned positions, undoing the hard work done by your orthodontist. So, you should wear your retainers as per your dentist’s instructions.
Is It Ok To Wear Only The Top Half Of My Retainers?
If you have accidentally damaged or fractured your lower retainer, you can continue to wear its upper counterpart. In the meantime, you should contact your orthodontist immediately for an emergency appointment to get a new lower retainer. However, it must be kept in mind that both retainers are essential to ensure that your teeth do not move backwards.
What Can You Use Instead Of A Retainer?
If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, it may be possible to use them temporarily if you lose or break your retainers. For example, in case you lose a retainer, you can continue wearing your last set of Invisalign aligners until you receive your replacement retainers.
Will My Dentist Ever Know I Haven’t Been Wearing My Retainer?
Your dentist can easily figure out if you have not been wearing your retainers. How? Because they can easily see that your teeth have moved from their new position, and gaps have started to appear between them. So, it is not possible to hide this fact from your dentist.
How Should My Retainer Be Kept When I’m Is Not Wearing It?
Just like removable dentures, removable retainers should be kept in water or a denture cleaning solution while they are not being worn. Failure to do so can result in their warpage; as a result, your retainers won’t fit over your teeth anymore. So, it is advisable to follow your dentist’s instructions while using orthodontic retainers.
Can I Buy A Retainer Without Going To A Dentist?
It might be possible to buy stock retainers from the market, but if you want to get custom-made retainers that fit perfectly on your teeth and do their job precisely, your only option is to visit your dentist. They will make digital impressions of your teeth and send them to the laboratory for fabricating your retainers. Sometimes, retainers can also be prepared at the dental chairside using CAD-CAM technology.
If you are considering orthodontic treatment for yourself or your kids and looking for the best orthodontic practice in Winsdor, Smile 101 is your best option. We provide high-quality dental services under one roof at affordable rates. So, book an appointment with us today for advice or to discuss your dental issues. We look forwards to serving you!