When should I replace my dental retainer?

If you’ve been in braces or Invisalign previously and are wearing a nightly retainer – you might be wondering when or if you need a new retainer. Perhaps you’ve just finished your recent Invisalign treatment, and are wondering how long your retainers will last you. Here are a couple of signs: it may be time for new retainers, or they are beginning to wear down.

How can I tell if my clear retainers need to be replaced?

Often, we see Winter Park dental patients in their 20s and 30s visit our office with retainers they have been wearing since they finished braces in their teens. While it is great that they have been adhering to the nightly wear for such a long time – they often show heavy staining, abrasions from grinding, and perhaps even cracks in the plastic. There is no set timeline or “life span” of a plastic retainer. There are, instead, two primary considerations for evaluating retainer condition.

The primary consideration is whether the retainer is doing its job – effectively preventing the teeth from shifting. This ability is diminished for a clear plastic retainer if there has been physical or heat damage to the retainer. You should inspect the retainer in a well-lit area and look for any apparent cracks in the plastic. They will show up as darker lines on an otherwise clear surface. The other physical damage to look for is if your teeth have been grinding or wearing down the plastic in certain areas, making the retainer too thin. The easiest way to find this may be to feel the retainer for rough spots compared to the rest. The plastic should feel smooth and not rough to the touch. The most common areas for wear will be at the tops of the teeth, where they would touch the top and bottom arch.

The second consideration is less common and applicable only in cases where you may have exposed the retainers to high heat. Generally, you do not want to subject your plastic retainers to temperatures much higher than body heat. If you are washing your retainers by hand, and the water is too hot to touch, it is too hot for your retainers. If you carry your retainers, we recommend keeping them in a case and out of direct sunlight, like in a parked car. To inspect your retainers for any warping or heat damage, you want to feel if areas are “sticking up” or hitting the opposite side of the mouth unevenly. Additionally, you can look for any loss of detail, seeing that certain teeth have been “smoothed over” and no longer fit your teeth.

Regarding clear retainers, there is still an additional consideration from your Winter Park dentist for replacing your retainers – and that is for dental hygiene. Because the retainers are touching all surfaces of your mouth, keeping them clean and free of food or other particles that would touch your teeth and cause decay is essential. We do have recommended methods for cleaning your retainers. While following these guidelines, you should be able to maintain cleanliness for a very long time; if your retainers have some buildup, it can make them difficult to clean. Furthermore, the buildup can increase the surface area for bacteria to grow on – making it more imperative to clean or perhaps replace your retainers.

Do I need to replace my wire retainer?

Typically, a wire retainer will last several years. With an adequately bonded wire or chain retainer, there should not be much interfering with its ability to retain the smile after braces or Invisalign. However, the bond in one of the teeth may sometimes come loose. This could be due to your teeth continuing to shift beyond the limits of the retainer or from accumulated wear on the retainer.

It is rare for a wire retainer to be knocked loose from a dental cleaning or eating/biting. If this is the case, the bonding on the tooth has already weakened or loose. If you feel that part of the retainer wire has become loose from the tooth, it is time to replace or repair it.

Lastly, another situation that may warrant a retainer replacement or switch to a clear plastic retainer is if cavities begin to form in the areas of the retainer. This could be a sign that the area is too difficult for the patient to keep proper dental hygiene, and the addition of the retainer wire (typically making it challenging to floss) is causing further risk to the teeth. In this case, it may be time to remove the wire retainer and switch to a clear plastic retainer so it will be easier to brush and floss the area.

Bonus Question:
What if I have a Hawley type retainer?

Hawley retainers are typically the most durable retainer type, and we commonly see patients wearing these for over 15-20 years! However, it is still possible for them to break or have buildup. We recommend having it checked with your Winter Park dental visit periodically, and keeping it clean with regular rinsing and brushing with mild soap and a soft toothbrush.

 In Conclusion

If you need new retainers or would like an evaluation, please give our office in Winter Park a call! We always welcome patients to bring their retainers to their dental checkups and cleanings so our staff can evaluate them and even complimentary deep cleaning in our ultrasonic cleaner.