Table of contents
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Understanding the Importance of Wearing a Retainer
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Symptoms That Your Retainer Is Broken
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What to Do When Your Retainer Is Lost or Broken?
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Step 1: Stay Calm and Search
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Step 2: Contact Your Orthodontist
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Step 3: Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
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Step 4: Wearing Your New Retainer
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Retainer Replacement Cost
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How To Avoid Losing Or Breaking Your Retainer?
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Retainer Care Tips
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When To Get A New Retainer?
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FAQs
Retainers are crucial in ensuring your teeth maintain the achieved alignment after the teeth straightening treatment. But what happens if your retainers are lost or broken? It can be irritating, and if not resolved, may result in teeth regressing to their original positions.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best course of action to take in case of lost or broken retainers, any additional costs associated with them, and what precautions to take to safeguard your retainers for future use.
Understanding the Importance of Wearing a Retainer
A survey by the U.S. National Library of Medicine was conducted to evaluate the retention procedures and protocols used by orthodontists. The study got a 75% response rate, and the conclusion stated that “all of the respondents prescribed retainers after the orthodontic treatment to their patients,” which further highlights the importance of wearing retainers.
The majority of the practitioners will advise you to wear retainers at night for the first 4-6 months after the treatment and only remove them when eating. Gradually, the teeth regain their stability, and you can wear the retainer biweekly or nightly, or as advised by the orthodontist. This practice is to make sure that your smile does not relapse to how it was before treatment.
When dealing with a broken or lost retainer, you should not wait to get it replaced, as your teeth may also relapse back to their normal positions.
Symptoms That Your Retainer Is Broken
Here are some signs you should look for to spot a broken retainer before it leads to something serious.
- Splits or cracks on the surface.
- Bent or distorted wires in the case of fixed retainers.
- Not fitting the teeth properly anymore.
- Harder to apply and remove.
What to Do When Your Retainer Is Lost or Broken?
It can definitely feel like a mini-emergency if your retainer is lost, broken or has passed its expiry date. But don’t worry! Here’s a simple, easy-to-follow guide on what to do if you’re facing any of the mentioned situations.
Step 1: Stay Calm and Search
If your retainer is lost, try remembering the place and time you last noticed it. Check those areas carefully. It could either be in its case, on the bathroom counter, or perhaps at your dinner table since retainers are usually taken off before eating.
Step 2: Contact Your Orthodontist
Whether your retainer is lost or broken, it is best to update your dentist about the situation. They will inform you on what you need to do next and, depending on your case, help arrange for a new retainer to be made.
Step 3: Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Make sure to keep your oral hygiene in check when your retainers are under replacement. This way you can start from right where you left off.
Step 4: Wearing Your New Retainer
Getting used to a new pair of retainers might take some time. Simply wear it as instructed by the orthodontist. This will help keep your teeth in the right posture and help you get used to it in no time.
Retainer Replacement Cost
The cost of replacement can vary depending on the type of retainer that needs to be fixed or replaced. Here’s a general breakdown for your ease:
- Hawley Retainer (removable, wire, and acrylic): Range of $150- $300.
- Clear Plastic Retainer (Essix or Vivera): $100-$250
- Fixed/Bonded Retainer: $250-$500 for repair and/or replacement of faulty or damaged parts.
How To Avoid Losing Or Breaking Your Retainer?
While accidents happen, you can take several steps to avoid losing or damaging your retainer in the future:
Get a Retainer Case
To avoid breaking or losing your removable retainers in the future, put them in a designated case before and after use. Moreover, try to keep the case in a safe place as well, whether at home or outside, to avoid losing the retainers.
Avoid Heat and Pressure
Do not expose your plastic retainers to high heat, such as rinsing them in hot billing water or leaving them in cars that are parked outside on a hot summer day. Furthermore, make sure to apply the required amount of force when cleaning or removing them to ensure they do not get damaged.
Maintain Your Retainers
In certain instances, retainers have been observed to break over time if they are not cleaned or maintained properly, as the plaque and tar can build up and make them more prone to damage. To ensure this does not happen with the next pair, keep a check on your retainer’s hygiene as well.
Retainer Care Tips
To extend the life of your retainer and reduce the likelihood of breakage, follow these tips:
- Always clean your retainer to remove any germ or bacteria deposits using a non-abrasive cleaner and a soft brush.
- Avoid harsh chemicals or soaking your retainer in mouthwash, as this can cause the material to deteriorate.
- Treat your retainer gently, especially when placing it inside your mouth or when removing it, to ensure that it does not bend or crack.
- It should be noted, though, that even if retainers are properly cleaned and cared for, they will sooner or later break and so should be replaced periodically or when required.
When To Get A New Retainer?
Even if your retainer isn’t lost or broken, you may need a replacement if:
- The retainers do not fit your teeth as they used to, or the retainers are now loose.
- The material has deteriorated and is therefore no longer as useful as it was before.
- You start feeling discomfort when the retainers are worn.
Just like every other appliance or tool, retainers can get lost or break over time. However, it is essential to take appropriate measures to avoid future complications. Furthermore, one should seek consultation from an orthodontist or use various of the tips mentioned above. Either way, it is best to take good care of your retainers along with your oral health for a brighter smile.
FAQs
Q: How much time does it take for teeth to relapse if a retainer is not used?
A: If one doesn’t wear a retainer, then their teeth can start shifting in just a few days. The longer you go without wearing one, the more likely your teeth are to relapse.
Q: Can I use my old retainer in case the new one gets lost or broken?
A: It is best to get a replacement as soon as possible, as your old retainer may not be compatible with the recent alignment changes in your teeth.
