When your Invisalign treatment is finished or your braces are taken off, your orthodontic journey is not over. Maintaining your newly straightened smile and preventing your teeth from shifting back to their original positions requires wearing a retainer. What occurs, however, if you misplace or break your retainer? The steps you can take to safeguard your smile and the significance of acting quickly when faced with a lost or broken retainer will both be covered in this blog.
Teeth shifting can occur suddenly
Your teeth are still prone to shifting after your orthodontic treatment is finished, especially in the first few months. This is because it takes time for the periodontal ligaments that support your teeth to adapt to their new positions. During this crucial time, a retainer aids in keeping your teeth in proper alignment. The hard work of your orthodontic treatment could be quickly undone if you lose or break your retainer.
The Key Is Early Intervention
It’s critical to get in touch with our office as soon as you realize you’ve lost or broken a retainer. The sooner you take care of the problem, the less likely it is that your teeth will shift and need additional treatment. We will be able to evaluate the circumstance, choose the best course of action, and either give you a new retainer or fix the broken one.
Interim fixes while you wait
There are a few short-term options to lessen teeth shifting while you wait for your new retainer or for your broken one to be fixed. If only a portion of your clear plastic retainer is broken, you can still use it until you get a new one. Use your backup retainer if you have one during this time. If you don’t have a retainer, practice careful oral hygiene and refrain from habits like teeth grinding or clenching that can lead to shifting of the teeth.
Learning by experience
The value of proper retainer maintenance can be learned from losing or breaking a retainer. To prevent problems in the future, be sure to:
- When not in use, keep your retainer in a case for protection.
- As directed by your orthodontist, regularly clean your retainer.
- Keep small children, pets, and heat sources away from your retainer.
- To prevent damage, handle your retainer with care.
The Value of Checkups for Retainers
To make sure your retainer is working properly and keeping your teeth in alignment, you must visit our office according to the schedule we provide. We will evaluate how well your retainer fits, make any necessary modifications, and address any problems that might come up during these appointments.
In conclusion, your newly straightened smile may be at risk if your retainer is lost or damaged. Please contact us right away if you want to reduce the likelihood of your teeth shifting. To protect your investment in your smile, keep in mind to take good care of your retainer, go to regular checkups, and practice excellent oral hygiene.