We’re in the middle of this with my kid right now—her retainer split down the middle last weekend. I was honestly surprised at how flimsy they can be, considering what they cost. I did wonder if super glue would work for a night or two (not my proudest parenting moment), but after reading up, it just sounded like a recipe for a mouthful of chemicals and an even more expensive fix.
How fast did you notice the shifting? My daughter says her front teeth feel “wiggly” after just three nights without anything. I called our ortho and they said as long as we get in within a week or so, it’s usually fine, but I still worry. Did anyone else have to wait more than a week? Did things move back once you got the new one?
Also, does anyone’s ortho actually keep backup molds? Ours didn’t, which seems wild to me with how common these breaks are. I’m tempted to ask them to make an extra next time, just in case.
Retainers really are shockingly fragile for what you pay, aren’t they? I’ve been through three myself—one snapped when I tried to take a bite of a sandwich, of all things. I get the temptation with super glue, but yeah... not worth the risk (I learned that lesson the hard way with a mouthful of bitter taste for days). In my case, I waited about ten days for a replacement and my teeth shifted a little, but they settled back once the new retainer came in. Never hurts to ask for backup molds, though—I wish I had!
That bitter taste from super glue is the worst—been there, too. I’m actually debating whether to get a backup made this time around, but I’m not sure if insurance would cover it. Did your ortho give you any hassle about making a spare?
- Totally agree, that glue taste is nasty... it lingers forever.
- I asked about a backup retainer last time—my ortho didn’t really care, just charged extra for it. No big drama, but definitely not free.
- Insurance barely covered my first one, so I doubt they’d pay for a spare. Worth double-checking your plan, though—some are weirdly generous.
- If you’re accident-prone (like me), having two is a lifesaver. Learned the hard way after snapping mine on vacation.
We just went through this with my kid—snapped retainer right before a school trip. I totally get the backup thing now. Our ortho offered a discount on the second one, but insurance was no help at all (seriously, why even bother sometimes?). Did anyone else have to wait ages for a replacement? We had to deal with a week of “don’t lose progress” anxiety... not fun. Also, does anyone else’s kid complain about that weird plastic smell after getting a new one?