What Should I Do If I Lose or Damage My Retainer?
The best way to keep your teeth straight after braces come off is to wear your retainer as instructed by your orthodontist. If your retainer is lost or damaged, your teeth may begin to shift in just a couple of days. To ensure that doesn’t happen, act fast and contact your orthodontist as soon as possible to get an appointment.
How Can an Orthodontist Help?
The first thing you should do when you lose or damage your retainer is call your orthodontist’s office. They will:
Evaluate whether your retainer can be repaired or needs to be replaced.
Take new impressions or digital scans if a replacement retainer is necessary.
Provide instructions for wearing and caring for your new retainer.
Recommend a temporary solution, such as using a backup retainer if you have one.
The sooner you schedule an appointment, the better your chances of preventing unwanted tooth movement.
What Not to Do
Stop wearing your retainer immediately if it is cracked, bent, or warped. If it no longer fits correctly, it could place uneven pressure on your teeth.
You should also avoid trying to repair the retainer yourself. Household glues, heat, or DIY repairs can damage the appliance further and may make it unusable.
Finally, always store your retainer in its protective case when you're not wearing it. Wrapping it in a napkin or leaving it loose on a table is one of the most common reasons retainers are accidentally thrown away or damaged.
We’re Here to Help
At Oasis Kids Dental and Orthodontics, we can get your post-braces treatment back on track. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment and get your retainer repaired or replaced.