Having to wear a retainer for life means you are going to need replacement retainers throughout your life. While retainers are made to be durable, they do not last forever. The average Essix style retainer lasts for six months to a few years, depending on wear and how well it is cared for.

You can’t simply wear a retainer to sleep every night or use someone else’s retainer to straighten your teeth without braces. If your teeth are only slightly crooked or crowded, your dentist may recommend a fixed retainer instead of a full set of braces.

The traditional way to replace a retainer is to go to your dentist or orthodontist. They will likely already have your impression and can make you a replacement retainer based on that. This cost can be anywhere from $200 to $600 per retainer, making replacing your retainer a potentially expensive prospect.

However, it can be prevented through continued and consistent wear of retainers. “My retainers will last my lifetime?” No, they will not, but they should last anywhere from 2 to 10 years depending on the type, how well you take care of them and if you do not lose them.

Our orthodontists say the first three months after debonding (getting braces removed) are the most critical, as your teeth are still getting used to the new positions. This period is when it’s easiest for your teeth to move without retainers.

The shift in the teeth that occurs in just 2 days is very minimal, so the retainers should still fit fine afterwards. Just don’t make a habit of it because the less you use the retainers, the more your teeth may shift. If you accidentally forget to wear your removable retainer for a day or two, don’t worry too much.

If you skip or lose your retainer for a week, it’s possible to have some small amount of relapse. Like we said earlier, teeth can move back to their original positions without a retainer to provide guidance and pressure.