Wellness

[Icegoddess]

The wire on the front of my bottom retainer broke the other night.  I've had one of the side wires on the top retainer break a couple of years ago, but since it didn't seem to affect it staying in place, my Orthodontist didn't suggest replacing it.  However, I don't think that would be the case for the lower one. 

My Orthodontist is semi-retired now and has sold his practice, although when I ran into him recently at Lowes (can't believe he recognized me) he said he still worked at that practice once or twice a week.  

I was wondering though if anybody haa had any experience with ordering replacement retainers online.  I'm not talking the teeth grinding things you can get on Amazon for super cheap.  I've found both the plastic Invisalign-style and the wire Hawley retainers like I have.  From what I've read on an Orthodontic website, the plastic ones actually are better at keeping teeth in place, but aren't as durable as the Hawley style.  

I've worn my old slip covers as my Dr called them when having dental work done.  It seems every time I get a crown or a crown replaced, it's in the area where the holding wire is, so the dentist didnt really want me wearing my regular retainers until after I got my permanent tooth.  Also, I've had temporaries pop off, and the slip covers are handy for keeping the tooth covered for a couple of days rather than having the temporary placed again. 

I actually wore the bottom slip cover last night.  It was a bit uncomfortable, sorta tight feeling, and due to a replaced crown it didn't sit all the way down in back.  I can't really wear the top slip cover since I had all 4 front crowns replaced after having the work done, and those crowns are thicker than the ones I originally had.  

I know a lot of people stop wearing their retainers after awhile, but I started the whole journey because my front tooth was slightly wiggling and now it's tight again, so I don't want to take a chance with my teeth moving back and losing a front tooth.  

[SilleeMee]

I have a custom soft night guard that I wear at night and as a retainer to help keep a loose tooth in place and from getting looser during the day. It's older than a couple of years and it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of needing a replacement yet. My dentist said he could make a hard plastic one if I wanted but I like the soft one. No idea what a hard one would be like.

That loose tooth is eventually going to be replaced with an implant but I can't have dental surgery until I'm done with bone density drugs. That could be years from now...ugh!

[Puggywuggy]

I am in my 60's and my Orthodontist put a permanent or fixed retainer on my lower teeth and I use a clear, plastic removable retainer on my top teeth every night. I was told by my Orthodontist that teeth will continue to move and that if I wanted mine to stay straight I had to faithfully wear my retainer every night, which I have done with few exceptions.

As to ordering retainers thru the mail, I have no personal experience with it. Whatever you decide, good luck to you, I hope you have good results! ❤️

[Icegoddess]

@SilleeMee @Puggywuggy , Thanks.  

I don't kmow what happemed to my Title.  It was supposed to be Broken Retainer.  I saw the title under Wellness and wondered what in the world Bro had to do with Wellness.  

[LuvSoCal]

@Icegoddess  I don't understand why you don't just go to the new orthodontist or the original one who goes in to the office part time. As you know, you will need to wear those retainers forever to ensure that your teeth don't continue to move. I started Invisalign treatment 5 months ago and that's what I would do. Maybe I missed something in your OP.

[AuntMame]

I have a permanent retainer and it broke a couple times over the years. Each time my dentist cemented it back into place, until she said it would probably best to replace it. So that's what I did. It wasn't expensive. I can't imagine buying something from Amazon. Talk to your new dentist about the options to re-cement it or replace it. 

[Icegoddess]

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@AuntMame wrote:

I have a permanent retainer and it broke a couple times over the years. Each time my dentist cemented it back into place, until she said it would probably best to replace it. So that's what I did. It wasn't expensive. I can't imagine buying something from Amazon. Talk to your new dentist about the options to re-cement it or replace it. 

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@AuntMame i specifically said Not from Amazon in my OP.  There are other online manufacturers.  

[Icegoddess]

@LuvSoCal , I do plan on calling him.  I was just looking at options.  They aren't cheap.  People do all kinds of stuff online these days we wouldn't have dreamed of doing in the past.  I've even seen ads on TV for Invisalign-STYLE orthodontic work which appears to be completely online.  It's still almost as costly as going in-person to one.  I read the fine print and did the math.  

[NYCLatinaMe]

Hi @Icegoddess   I was curious about this because I need some dental work.  I may get braces.  Amazon has some retainers available, but I have no idea how that might work, since they are "custom."  I saw at least 3 products searching for dental retainers, but did not look at the details.  between $100-$150.  I saw a third one that stated it was temporary, $24.

Good luck!

[Icegoddess]

@NYCLatinaMe On one site, I saw that the clear ones aare expected to last about a year.  Don't think I'd want to pay $100 to $150 every year, but that is at least for an entire set.  The Hawley ones are more expensive, but mine have lasted me several years. 

It's gonna cost me $300 just for the bottom one.  It would've been somewhat cheaper IF I used the clear ones and I had the forms.  My Ortho did give me all the plaster forms they made but they can't use them for the wire retainers.  

It would be nice to have another set of the clear covers to have just in case , but at least just to cover my teeth during dental work, I could probably use the ones for grinding teeth that you can get on Amazon.