Why do permanent retainers break?

permanent retainer broke If your permanent retainer is broken or the glue came off, don’t worry as this is something that can happen. But keep in mind that you need to reach out to your orthodontist without delay within days. Permanent retainers have an important job of keeping the teeth aligned after braces or Invisalign. So, you sure don’t want your beautiful smile and straight teeth to be affected by a broken retainer. This article will help you know what causes permanent retainer breaking, what you can do about it, and how is it repaired or replaced by your orthodontist.

A permanent retainer is a piece of metal wire that is bonded with composite resin to the back side of the teeth, in the bottom or top teeth. Permanent retainers can last up to 20 years with good care. However, they can also be prone to longtime wear and tear, getting debonded, or breakage.

The main risk factors that cause a broken permanent retainer include:

• Biting into hard foods or chewing on ice or hard objects like pencils. It can cause the wire to bend, the dental composite to come off, or even break the retainer wire.

• Repeated abrasions from chewing or brushing in which the composite becomes thin over time or eventually gets de-bonded.

• The impacts of mouth and jaw injuries can potentially damage the permanent retainer. This can occur during a sports activity or a major accident.

• The wire can wear down over time due to dental pressures, loss of strength, or wear and tear.

• If you have a bite issue, the breakage of retainer wire or glue coming off is very likely. With bite problems, upper and lower teeth and jaws are not aligned and teeth can come into contact with the retainer repeatedly.

Is a broken permanent retainer normal?

Composite resin is a strong dental adhesive that is used to bond the permanent retainer wire on your teeth. It is the same material used as composite filling to treat cavities.

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Dental composite is highly effective which keeps your permanent retainer firm in place on the tooth enamel. But composite is not supposed to last forever and there can be risks of debonding. Nor does the wire in your permanent retainer which may break and not resist the heavy pressures in the long run.