Retainers keep your smile in place when active treatment is complete. Adults need to wear their retainers for life, but adolescents may be able to stop wearing them after about 10 years.
If you stop wearing your retainer, will your teeth move back? The answer is yes. Slowly, your teeth will move and shift back into the positions they were in before you went through orthodontic treatment. Remember, your teeth have a “memory” of where they used to be and will return there given the chance.
If you have minor dental issues, your dentist will initially suggest wearing retainers full-time for 2-3 months. But you might have to wear your retainers for over 6 months if you have severe dental problems. However, the good news is that you do not have to wear your retainers forever.
When you stop wearing retainers consistently, the teeth will slowly shift and move into different positions. This means that formerly crowded teeth will become crowded and crooked again. Teeth that had spaces between then will revert to gaps opening back up.
Can I wear my retainer after not wearing it for months or years? Don't even try to wear an old retainer if you haven't worn it for several months or years! You could cause more harm than good trying to refit it into your mouth. Your old retainer could become stuck, cause pain, or even damage your teeth and gums.
A few weeks or a month: After a slightly longer period of a few weeks or a month, your retainer may not feel comfortable to wear. Call your orthodontist to see if it's safe to wear it. A few months or years: Don't even attempt to wear an old retainer if it's been several months or years!
Your retainers ensure that your teeth stay in the right place. Retainers keep your smile in place when active treatment is complete. Adults need to wear their retainers for life, but adolescents may be able to stop wearing them after about 10 years.
While some patients have successfully worn their retainers for up to 20 years, others may need to have them removed or replaced sooner. In most cases, there are no long-term effects to wearing a permanent retainer so long as you are watching for the indications of it needing to be removed and replaced.
The answer to the question: Can retainers move teeth back? Yes, but very slowly and in a harmful way, in case during your retention phase, you lost retainer and found them late, however, in between this your teeth somehow change position. And your old retainer is not fitting well; it's a dangerous point.
Get in touch as soon as you can
The first thing you should do if you've lost your retainers is give your orthodontist or dentist a call as soon as you can. To make your new retainers, they may need to book you in for a new set of impressions (moulds of your teeth).
If you neglect to wear your retainer, your teeth may move back into their original position. This is what may happen if you do not wear your retainer after treatment with braces. Your teeth will begin to move back into their initial place as soon as your braces are removed.
Nightly Wear
You should wear your retainers nightly for at least a year. After that, you can shift your wear to every other night or so. After a few years, most individuals choose to wear theirs at night around three to five times a week.
If you force it into place, it could become stuck, damage your teeth, and cause problems for your roots and jaw. Instead, make an appointment with an orthodontist. They may be able to adjust your old retainer, or you may need to get a new one altogether.
An old retainer can often do more harm than good, especially if it has been years since you have tried to use it. \ \ The following are risks of using an old retainer: Damage to teeth: Forcing a retainer into place when your teeth have shifted can chip, crack, or break your teeth.
In most cases, a tight retainer won't damage your teeth or gums. You may experience some discomfort during your first few days of retainer treatment. However, your discomfort will likely go away after a few days. If things don't improve, or your pain worsens, you should talk to your orthodontist about your concerns.
If you are no longer wearing your retainer but are experiencing grinding or clenching at night, your dentist may need to create a mouthguard for you to wear during sleep. The mouthguard will be made of a thin, plastic material similar to your retainer.
The drawbacks of permanent retainers are that they: can make it more difficult to clean and floss the teeth. may trap in food particles that eventually cause cavities or gum disease. may cause discomfort when a person's tongue brushes against the wire.
There are a few disadvantages of permanent retainers such as they can make it difficult to properly clean teeth, the wire can trap food, bacteria, and other debris, increasing the risk of dental problems, especially if you don't brush and floss regularly, they can become damaged or wear down over time, so you may have ...
Because teeth begin to shift naturally as we age, a permanent retainer typically offers better long-term results for teeth straightening than a removable one. You can't forget to put it in — it's already there!
Can You Wear an Old Retainer? You can usually continue to use your retainer as long as it has not been broken and still fits into your mouth, even if it is a little bit uncomfortable.
Give Your Orthodontist a Call
If you've looked for a few hours and still can't find your retainer then you'll need to contact your orthodontist to get a new one. They'll make an appointment with you to either make a new mold of your teeth or to order a copy of your old ones if they still have your impression.
If you have to force your retainer to fit, you shouldn't wear it: forcing a retainer that doesn't fit could damage your teeth or the retainer. Try gently putting the retainer back in your mouth: if you have to force it, then it no longer fits and you should not try to put it in your mouth.
You should expect to notice minor shifts in your teeth approximately 4 weeks from after bonding. Greater shifts that are more visible require more time as they become noticeable after approximately 2-3 months.
So, Can Retainers Realign Teeth? In short, the answer is no. While braces are designed to place just enough pressure to guide your teeth into the desired positions, retainers are meant to simply hold your teeth in place.
Orthodontic Retainers Cost
On average, the cost of a orthodontic retainer in Australia is between $200-$500. This price is usually included in the orthodontics plan provided by your orthodontist.