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.
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 give your Hawley retainer the TLC It deserves, it can last anywhere from 5 to 10 years! These removable acrylic retainers are often replaced around 8 years. Essix retainers (removable clear retainers, similar to Invisalign®) typically last about 3 years before they need to be replaced.
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.
At some point in your life, you'll probably need to replace your retainers. While permanent retainers can last up to 20 years, clear plastic retainers need to be replaced every couple of years. And, some retainers need to be replaced every 6 months.
How Long Does It Take to Shift? How much your teeth shift without a retainer will depend on a number of factors, including genetics and the type of orthodontic problem you had before treatment. Generally, a few days or even a week will not allow for severe teeth shifting.
Rule of thumb is: you have to wear your retainers for as long as you want them to be straight. 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 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.
Do not even bother putting an old retainer in your mouth if it has been several months or years since you last wore it. It is quite improbable that it will fit, and if it does, it might get caught, which would be painful and might even cause harm to your teeth and tissues.
A fixed retainer comprises a tiny piece of wire custom-made to bond to the back of a person's teeth. It prevents your teeth from moving, and you can smile or speak without anyone noticing. Its longevity ranges from 5 to 10 years or even more. Fixed retainers can last for decades if you maintain them well.
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 you lose your retainer, you should get a new retainer. Ideally, that means going to the orthodontist who supervised your treatment with braces. They will inspect your teeth to assess the damage and order new custom retainers for you.
It's very important to follow your orthodontist's instructions and wear your retainer for the full length of time. Why? Our teeth never stop moving, even as an adult, and after your braces or aligners are removed, your teeth will be inclined to move back to their original positions.
Orthodontic Retainers Cost
On average, the cost of a orthodontic retainer in Australia is between $200-$500.
The replacement cost of your retainer depends on the type of retainer you chose to begin with, but these are the average costs of replacing different types of retainers: Hawley retainers: $150–$300. Clear plastic retainers: $100–$250. Permanent retainers: $250–$500.
Unfortunately, there are no alternatives to wearing retainers. In order to retain the smile achieved with orthodontic treatment, you must use some form of retainer.
While everyone's orthodontist may recommend something different, typically, it is recommended that you wear your retainer every night for the first year. After that, you can switch to 3-5 times a week. Night-time is the perfect time to pop it in as you won't be eating, drinking, talking, or seeing people in public.
The traditional way to replace a retainer is to go to your dentist or orthodontist. They will likely already have your impression and can make you a replacement retainer based on that.
In one way or another, avoiding using the retainer accurately can result in relapse, where your teeth start to shift back to where they were originally. Another reason why you might require orthodontic treatment again is because of unexpected growth.
A too-tight retainer can damage your teeth and the surrounding gums. The retainer also could become stuck, which would constitute a dental emergency for which you would need immediate care. A retainer that is too loose won't damage the teeth like forcing in a tight retainer can.
Your retainers will need to be worn less now. Skipping a few nights here and there isn't a big deal, and wearing them every other night is a good rule of thumb.
If your retainer doesn't fit anymore, don't try to adjust it yourself! You have to book an appointment with the orthodontist to ensure that you get the help you need. A lot of information online tells you how to do this, but in reality, there isn't an easy way to fix it yourself.
Fortunately, teeth don't move quite as quickly as you think! In general, it can take years for teeth to shift significantly, though teeth can start moving slowly back into their old positions after only a few weeks or 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.
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.