Permanent retainers in the mouth can break at the retainer wire interface or the wire can separate from the bonding against the tooth. Regardless of how it is broken, you should see your dentist to discuss treatment options because if it is left alone for too long, the teeth can drift.
Broken permanent retainer wire
Below is a photo of what a permanent retainer with a broken wire looks like.
What it can look like:
Wire broken or snapped.
Wire can break in one location or multiple locations.
Broken ends are frayed and jagged.
Overall, a broken wire on a permanent retainer will feel very rough or sharp to the tongue. Our dentists in Long Island City highly recommend having it fixed as soon as possible.
What to do about it: The broken wire cannot be repaired, the only way to fix it is by removing it and then replacing it with a brand new one. Most general dentists will not do this procedure, you most likely need to return to your orthodontist to have it replaced.
The only way to repair metal wires is with welding and dentists don't do welding! That would also make it much more complicated than a simple replacement.
Broken permanent retainer bonding
The photo below shows what a permanent retainer looks like when the bonding is loose or has disintegrated.
What it can look like:
Wire is separating from a tooth.
Wire can be separating from multiple teeth.
Retainer wire moves around.
A space or gap can be felt between the wire and the tooth.
Missing bump on the wire. (The bonding feels like a bump on the wire)
What to do about it:
If the wire is intact and the teeth have not shifted, your dentist may be able to just rebond the portion that has come off.
If there is multiple teeth that have debonded, you may want to have the entire retainer replaced.our dentists in Long Island City
If the teeth have shifted, you may want to consider realigning the teeth and straighten them again before having it fixed.
Those are all of the treatment options for what you can do for a debonded retainer.
However, we have had a couple of patients where we repaired the broken retainer before but it keeps rebreaking shortly afterwards. If this is your case, you may need the entire thing replaced rather than spot repairing it every time. Everyone is a little different.
Photo of intact permanent retainer
An intact or unbroken permanent retainer looks very different. There should be no rough edges, flayed edges, or sharp edges. It should feel "normal".
The photo above is an example of what a permanent retainer in the mouth looks like when it is not broken. Looks very different doesn't it?
Takeaway
A broken permanent retainer doesn't look normal nor does it feel normal. If you think yours is potentially broken you should schedule a consultation with your dentist or if you're in the area in NY, one of our dentists in Long Island City can take a look at it for you!
