Should I buy an extra set of retainers (orthodonics) now?

April 6, 2022 10:22 PM

Is there any negative in buying another set of retainers now, instead of waiting until they inevitably break?

I just finished getting my teeth aligned, and I'm comfortable wearing retainers until my teeth fall out. Is there any reason I shouldn't call up my orthodonist and have them order another set of retainers from Invisalign? They have my print on file.

The upsides I see are that I don't have a week or two of teeth shifting (and the associated pain) when my existing retainers eventually break or I lose them. The only downsides I can see are the cost (which I'm basically just pre-paying, not avoiding) and the possibility of losing them. What else should I be worried about?

Also, is there any point of "shopping around" for retainers if they're all just ordered from the same vendor (Invisalign)?

posted by meowzilla to Health & Fitness (4 answers total)

Best answer: If you just got your retainers, some insurers will only cover the cost of them every few years - thus waiting for that time period would be a good idea. If you have to pay out of pocket either way, then I'd say go for it - as the cost will likely only increase over time for numerous reasons.
posted by itsflyable at 10:31 PM on April 6, 2022

Best answer: I also did Invisalign recently.

Do you still have your last set of trays? I assume they would be okay to use for a week or so while waiting for a new set of retainers.

Another option would be getting the retaining wire put in. You can still wear retainers or a night guard in addition to the wire. For example, if you are prone to grinding your teeth.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 10:36 PM on April 6, 2022

Best answer: I wear a retainer and have for the last .... 25 years. I've gone through several sets.

I have also had a crown in that time, and I couldn't wear my retainer with the temporary, nor would the retainer fit with the permanent crown, so I had to immediately get new retainers. If I had an unused, new, retainer waiting in the wings, it would have been wasted.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 5:41 AM on April 7, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I've been able to wear my retainers for over twenty years without either of them breaking. I replaced the top one with a night guard a few years ago, but other than that, no changes. So I wouldn't assume you need a backup for breakage reasons.

Only you know how prone you are to losing things and whether a backup helps with that it or whether that gets lost too.
posted by blueberry monster at 7:02 PM on April 9, 2022