OMG EMERGENCY??? Help?

I broke my bottom retainer... again! I had braces for 5 years and took them off last January 5th... do you think my teeth with shift?


Last time I went 2-4 weeks without wearing my retainer and I think they shifted a little.


can't see the dentist for at least a week.

OMG EMERGENCY??? Help?
A week or two without them won't make a lot of difference, the teeth will shift back with constant wearing of the new retainer for about a week.





If your can find your model, you can drop both off at your orthodontist or dentist office. They can make the "repair" or "remake" using the old model without seeing you for new impressions, and they can re-make it in less time. For a repair to be done, it will depend on "where" the break is and if it's "missing" any material. Since the retainers are less than a year old I would assume that the model is still good, meaning there have been no changes with your teeth such as crowns, and the model hasn't been broken or chipped, if both teeth and model are the same, then this will work for a new retainer to be made from, or for this retainer to be repaired with. Always keep up with your retainers and your models, both are valuable when a repair or replacement is needed.





I disagree with George, the lowers do and will tend to shift, even "faster" due to the tongues constant thrust. The teeth aren't kept together in a "tightly closed" or "clenched" position thorough out the day or night, unless you grind or clench at night. If that were the case, no one would ever need lower retainers. Lowers are the first to shift when retainers aren't worn.





Additional information: Six months is too long. See your dentist for the repair, he can send it to the lab. Even if you don't have your model, the dentist can take the impressions and have a new retainer fabricated or this one repaired. Don't wait, you will regret it if you do.
Reply:Lower retainers are not often required; if you are still wearing the upper retainer and the bite is in the proper occlusion, the upper teeth should retain the lower. Wait for your next appointment. No emergency!
Reply:good suggestion by George.