Retainers are vital in maintaining the results of your orthodontic treatment, so here are 5 signs that you may need a new one!
Once you or your child has successfully finalized orthodontic treatment, regular retainer usage will be needed to maintain the results of the braces or Line-M-Up™ process.
Although there have been many advancements in retainer technology throughout recent years, there are still countless scenarios in which orthodontic patients require a retainer replacement.
Below are 5 common signs that you or your child may need a new retainer!
1. The Retainer Has Small Cracks
There are many different options when it comes to orthodontic retainers, and the retainer you’ll ultimately get is generally based upon the type of treatment you obtained.
Line-M-Up™ patients may use the last aligner in their sequence that’s made of invisible aligners material, whereas braces patients may receive a retainer that’s made of a softer plastic or a hard plastic with a wire. But no matter what type of retainer you get, the odds are that the material will start to wear down in about 2-3 years.
That’s why it’s so important to regularly monitor your retainer to check up on its durability, and if you notice any type of cracks within your retainer then it’s a clear sign that you may need a replacement.
Neglected retainer cracks will only get bigger with time, and eventually the retainer won’t have the strength that it needs to maintain your smile’s alignment.
2. The Retainer Has Become Loose
It’s always a rather clear sign that you may need a retainer replacement when it starts to feel loose, and it’s important to note that this sign doesn’t indicate anything wrong with your teeth or overall oral health.
Retainers simply wear down over long periods of time, and this can lead them to growing a little bit wider than they originally were. So even if you’ve built up a good habit of wearing your retainer on a regular basis, this issue can still present itself and negate the many benefits of retainer usage.
So if your retainer feels at all loose in any way, then it’s really important that you get a replacement retainer that properly fits. We understand how much your perfect smile means to you because it means a lot to all of us at JK Orthodontics, so we’ll be there for you when your retainer starts to lose its functionality.
3. The Retainer Has Become Warped
Your retainer should always fit absolutely perfect within your mouth in order to properly function, and it’s unfortunate that many modern retainers have the potential of becoming warped or damaged.
One common scenario is that a retainer will warp when someone tries to use very hot water to clean it, or it got put in the dishwasher, or even washing machine in a pocket, etc. These common situations will often require giving us a call to get you a replacement.
But no matter how your retainer has become warped or damaged, we’ll be sure to get you a new one that puts you and your treatment results in a better position for long-term success.
4. The Retainer Is Experiencing Calcium Buildup
Calcium buildup is a problem even for people who are really good about properly cleaning their retainer, and what’s worse is that calcium buildup may discourage you or your child from wanting to wear a retainer.
If calcium buildup has caused you or your child to stop wearing a retainer, then it’s time to get a replacement or have it cleaned in our office ultrasonically with a special cleaning solution that can buy you some time.
5. The Retainer Has Been Lost
Lost retainers are much more common than most people would probably assume, and although this type of situation may be frustrating it’s still just a part of life. Retainers are absolutely critical when it comes to maintaining the integrity of your treatment results, so replacing a lost retainer is just something that we all must do as we get older and our days of orthodontic treatment are further in the past.
The important thing with this scenario is that you shouldn’t wait too long to get a new retainer when you’ve lost yours; but even if it has been awhile since you lost it, we’ll be sure to make a new retainer. There may be some instances in which we’ll need to utilize our aligner system Line-M-Up to gently bring your smile back to its proper alignment.
Reach Out To The JK Orthodontics Team To Learn More About Our Retainers and Retainer Replacement Processes!
JK Orthodontics has been supporting the entire Columbus Metro Area for many years when it comes to orthodontic treatment, so we’ve helped plenty of people obtain a retainer replacement.
So always feel free to reach out to us online or call us at 614-766-0330 (Dublin office) or 614-471-6355 (Gahanna office) to get in touch with our team and let us know how we can support you with obtaining your new retainer!