Should I force my teeth into my old retainer?

Question

I had braces for about 2 years and a clear retainer (resembling Invisalign) for 6 months after. Recently, I've noticed one of my lower teeth has moved backwards. The rest of my teeth appear fine, but this one is noticeably off. I tried wearing my old retainer for my lower teeth and experienced discomfort. I'm still not able to push it down the entire way. I was wondering if this is a good idea to try wearing it again to avoid another trip to the orthodontist.

Jared R. Gianquinto, DMD, MS - Account Suspended · Answer

Great question! If your can't get your retainer to seat correctly, it is unlikely that you will benefit from continued wear. Forcing it into place will most likely break it. However, your orthodontist may be able to make a slight adjustment to it to not only make it fit, but able to get your teeth back in place. The sooner you get back in to see your orthodontist, the easier it is to get things back on track, and the more options you'll have. Teeth shift throughout life like everything else does. Wearing retainers nightly is the only way to maintain the results of your orthodontic treatment. Hope this helps!Dr. G

Should I force my teeth into my old retainer?

Answers (1)