What to Do When Your Retainer Doesn't Fit Anymore

 You spent months — or maybe even years — saying no to your favorite foods and dealing with uncomfortable orthodontic appointments with the goal of straightening your teeth.

Now that you’re out of braces and showing off your new smile, you want to take care of it. Part of that care includes wearing your retainer.

Retainers hold the teeth in place once they’ve shifted into their proper, aligned positions. Because they haven’t yet adjusted to their new homes, there’s always a chance that they will slowly return to their old places.

A retainer prevents that from happening — as long as it fits right.

If you’ve noticed that this crucial oral appliance doesn’t snap into place like it used to — or you’re concerned that the one you ordered online doesn’t fit properly — don’t wait to get it checked out. An improperly fitting retainer is sometimes worse than none at all because it can force teeth shifting.

This guide explains the importance of wearing your retainer and what to do if it no longer fits properly. 

The Importance of a Retainer (AKA: Why You Should Listen to Your Doctor’s Orders)

As your permanent (adult) teeth come in, they’re not always perfectly straight. This misalignment (malocclusion) needs to be fixed, and not just because of aesthetics.

When your teeth are crooked, it can:

• Cause problems with your bite
• Make your jaw muscles work too hard
• Lead to more serious oral health issues

So, you head to the orthodontist for braces — and you say no to your favorite chewy, sticky, hard, and crunchy foods for the near future. During that time, the braces apply constant pressure to your teeth, gently forcing them to shift into the correct position.

This shift is created through brackets glued to each tooth, holding an archwire that stiffens due to your body heat. Together, these strong but gentle forces encourage the teeth to shift toward the brackets and wire.

Another alternative to traditional braces is Invisalign. This effective orthodontic treatment is gaining popularity today because the aligners are clear and removable. Made from flexible plastic, these custom-made “braces” are almost entirely invisible. While they don’t use wires and brackets to shift your teeth, the process of gentle force to move your smile into place is similar.

Patience Pays Off

How long you’ll wear your braces (traditional or Invisalign) depends on the severity of your malocclusion. It might only take a few months, or you could have braces on and off for years. But once they’ve done their job, your patience pays off, and you have perfectly straight teeth and a winning smile.

However, just because your braces are off doesn’t mean your teeth are permanently in their new positions. Your teeth have shifted so well because they’re connected to ligaments, which act like rubber bands. 

These ligaments allow your teeth the freedom of movement while keeping them firmly attached to the jaw. But this same flexibility means that once the pressure is gone, they can gradually return to their original — read: crooked — positions. That’s where the retainer comes into play.

Your newly straightened teeth need continual reminders to stay where they’re now located. The retainer does this job. Since your teeth naturally shift over time, if you don’t wear this oral appliance, you’ll likely notice new gaps and crooked spaces as you get older.

Your doctor will suggest how often you should wear your retainer and tell you how long to expect to use it. Some people may only need to use theirs for 3-6 months, while other orthodontists subscribe to the lifetime retainer theory because of the natural movement of teeth with age. 

If you prefer to keep your straight teeth for as long as possible, consider a bonded retainer (also called a fixed or permanent retainer).

Signs Your Retainer Doesn’t Fit Anymore

If you don’t wear this oral appliance as directed and follow your doctor’s orders, there’s a good chance at least a few of your teeth will settle back into their old, comfortable homes. You’ll know this is happening if your removable retainer no longer fits. However, an ill-fitting mouthpiece can also indicate that it’s broken or deformed.

Your first retainer is contoured to the shape of your mouth and designed to fit precisely over the arch. If it doesn’t feel snug (too loose or too tight) or is disfigured, it’s important to stop wearing it.

This change in shape happens more often than you might think; if yours doesn’t fit right, you’re not alone. 

Why Your Retainer Might Not Fit Anymore

Clear plastic retainers can become malformed if exposed to heat or chemicals. If you’ve been cleaning your retainer with hot water or using toothpaste, mouthwash, or other non-approved liquids, you had your best interests at heart but accidentally damaged your retainer. Storing your appliance in the bathroom or areas of high or low temperatures and humidity can also cause disfiguration.

Checking For Proper Fit

The good news is that it’s easy to tell if your retainer is still in its original shape.

Check to see if it fits properly by placing it in your mouth over your teeth. Notice whether it “pops” into position without any force. It should feel snug and then become more comfortable after a short time, and you shouldn’t need to push or drag it into place. When the retainer feels loose, it could be because the plastic is deformed.

If it’s too snug, try wearing it for a few days. Your teeth may have made tiny adjustments, and the retainer can push them back into place. But retainers that cause discomfort, are visibly broken, or make your teeth feel sensitive should be replaced. During your retainer check, watch for signs of forced placement, and consider getting a new oral appliance if this doesn’t correct itself within a short while.

What To Do If You Stopped Wearing Your Retainer and Want To Start Again

In many cases, your retainer doesn’t fit because you stopped wearing it as directed. Forgetting to use it occasionally isn’t likely to cause your teeth to shift again overnight, but if you’ve skipped it long-term (months or longer), you’ll probably notice it doesn’t fit perfectly anymore when you try to use it again.

Follow the above steps to check for proper fit. If it’s too tight or loose, your teeth may have shifted again. If you’re concerned about this movement, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist for an alignment correction. 

You shouldn’t need to undergo a full course of braces again unless you have waited a long time to address the issue and your teeth have moved back to their original spots.

Replacing Your Retainer Before Your Teeth Shift Again

In the best-case scenario, you notice your retainer is malformed or broken before your teeth have had time to move. The good news is that if you catch this problem early, you can simply get a new retainer before any issues with your teeth alignment occur.

Your orthodontist has your impression on file, making it easy for them to quickly make you a new retainer. The downside is that, in most cases, your insurance only covers one retainer for a lifetime, so you’ll have to pay full price for the replacement, plus the office visits and fittings.

Once you have your new retainer, check out: 5 Easy Ways to Clean a Retainer

What to Expect to Pay When Replacing Your Retainer

This expense will vary depending on the type of retainer you use and the lab setup at your orthodontic treatment center. Some doctors create retainers in-house, cutting costs, but others outsource to a lab.

Clear and Hawley retainers cost $200-$600 at the doctor's, plus chair time. Essix or clear plastic retainers are more affordable, ranging between $150-$300, on top of the office visit costs. Clear aligners usually have a replacement price tag of $400-$800 per set.

However, there are other options besides going back to the ortho and paying close to a thousand dollars to replace an ill-fitting retainer. 

Today’s e-commerce world makes it easy to find a high-quality, affordable, professional retainer online at sites like JS Dental Lab. 

Our retainer impression kits are shipped quickly after you place your order. When you receive the kit, we walk you through the steps to make your impression from the comfort of your couch as you watch TV or scroll through your phone—no uncomfortable office chairs necessary!

Once your impression is completed, send it back to us, and we’ll make your custom-made retainer and have it in your hands before your teeth have time to shift to their original positions again!

Not only do our retainers rival the professional options you receive at your orthodontist’s office at a fraction of the cost, but our friendly and knowledgeable team is available to answer your questions by email, chat, text, and phone. 

With care, a well-made retainer should last 5-7 years, but if your JS Dental Lab retainer becomes disfigured with wear and tear, we keep your impression on file. Contact us for a replacement and take advantage of our repurchase discount!

First-time customer? Here’s our Custom Clear Retainer

Recap

If you’re not wearing your retainer full-time with a permanent appliance, it’s easy to forget or misplace it. To keep your perfect smile, though, follow your doctor’s orders and use your retainer as directed.

Still, forgetting is part of being human!

If, for any reason, your old retainer doesn’t fit anymore because you haven’t worn it in a while or it became disfigured, contact JS Dental Lab for a replacement. Let us help you keep your healthy smile straight without paying the high costs of the orthodontist’s office.