To remove a permanent retainer, your orthodontist will need to remove the bonding cement first with a specialized tool, generally a dental drill. Then, the wires and brackets can be detached. The final step will involve polishing your teeth.
How long are permanent retainers worn? Usually, you will wear a retainer for your lifetime. There are a few exceptions, such as if your teeth shift and require further orthodontic treatment. Usually, though, you will continue to wear your retainer to ensure your teeth stay put.
Your orthodontist will place new dental composite over the wire and bond it to your teeth. It's a 5 minute process in all. If you have a broken permanent retainer that comes completely off your teeth, your orthodontist can oftentimes take this same retainer and bond it back onto the teeth.
If you have a broken permanent retainer, you should see your orthodontist as soon as possible to get it repaired. You will certainly have the option of having it removed and replaced, or you can obtain a detachable one to ensure that your permanent one does not break again.
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!
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.
Patients lose their retainers less and don't have to worry about tooth injury during sports or maintaining their straight smile, as the retainer is attached inside the mouth. However, your permanent retainer will age, so you should either have it changed or removed one or more times during your life.
Most breaks happen within the first six months of having your permanent retainer. Biting into hard foods is the number one cause of broken permanent retainers. They may also wear down over time if they stay in place long-term, requiring replacement later in life.
If not repaired or replaced quickly the teeth will shift and move. Fixed retainers are made out of various metal alloys. Like all metal that are subject to stress they can stretch over time. If the retainer stretches some spaces and small movement can occur.
Ryan Caudill summarizes, “There are no dangers to having a permanent retainer if it is cleaned well. The metal and bonding material are safe.
Because permanent retainers are cemented into place, they should only be removed by a dental professional. Attempting to remove a permanent retainer yourself could lead to serious injury and damage to your teeth.
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.
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.
Your teeth begin to shift if you don't wear retainers at night every day. If you go a week without wearing retainers, you may notice a small amount of relapse, small spaces, or rotations. If you go a month without wearing retainers, it's possible your bite may begin to change.
Our teeth never stop moving! After treatment, you may notice minor shifts in your teeth in about four weeks, especially if you're not wearing your retainer consistently. More visible shifts may appear after about two to three months.
If you lose your retainer or just stop wearing it, your teeth can begin to shift back to their natural position in as little as two weeks. It could be just one tooth shifting that creates a gap, or it could be a few teeth that cause numerous issues.
Permanent retainers can be helpful for people who might have trouble getting themselves to wear a removable retainer. But permanent retainers are very tricky to keep clean and can lead to problems like cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.
Braces, retainers or dental fillings
Most metal tooth fillings or other permanent dental implants won't cause a problem. If you have detachable metal braces or a retainer, you should take them out before you get an MRI.
Certain foods can affect the retainer's effectiveness.
When an orthodontic patient bites into any tough/hard foods while wearing a permanent retainer, it can potentially cause the metal wire to bend in the wrong ways. Some examples of food that can pose this type of risk are apples and steak.
Unfortunately not, even teeth that are held with fixed retainers may move if they are not directly attached to the teeth or the retainer wire may be bent during chewing that may move the teeth.
The good news is, after some time it won't be necessary to wear them as often. Though the process becomes slower and slower, if you stop wearing your retainer, your teeth will gradually move back to their original position. In a way, teeth remember their original position.
It's natural for teeth to want to move back to where they were. Even if you wore braces for three years, your teeth have a long memory. Teeth movement can happen soon after braces, or take many years to occur. Teeth shift as part of the aging process.
Many people believe that some part of their appliances must be causing the stench. However, this is not the case. Braces or retainers contribute to bad breath just as much as normal teeth do.
Teeth can also shift if the glue on your permanent retainer comes loose. If this occurs, please contact our office to schedule an appointment to have your permanent retainer repaired or replaced. There is a fee to have your permanent retainer repaired or replaced.