DD lost retainer in quarantine

[doorwaytoparadise]

Hi all,
My DD had her braces off 10 months ago and has religiously worn her retainer; her teeth look lovely. But today she’s been in a total flap because after waking up she took out her retainer and now can’t find it. We‘ve searched the bins and all around her room and the bathroom but it’s nowhere. She’s panicking about her teeth moving back and has convinced herself she must have flushed it down the toilet by accident as she can’t think of any other place it could be . My normal reaction in this situation would be ringing the orthodontist on Monday to get a replacement but because of COVID-19 and the lockdown we’re uncertain if this qualifies as ‘essential/urgent’. I have one very worried DD here, does anyone have any searching suggestions or know if orthodontic clinics are able to do anything at the moment?

Same problem! We have been told to order a boil in the bag mouth guard. Orthodontist can’t help and the labs are shut anyway.

My DS never wore his retainer and his teeth didn't budge.

The sceptic in me thinks they may serve a function in a minority of cases, but that they mainly exist to keep you paying orthodontist fees for longer.

If they still have the moulds then they should be able to remake the retainer without seeing you, shouldn't they?

but it’s nowhere

This isn’t physically possible. Keep looking. They are hard to see!

I didn't wear mine and only my front tooth slightly moved. I'm sure a short period without won't hurt. It'll turn up when you stop looking

The bits of your brain that find things don't work as well when you're stressed. Try a combination of relaxation and searching, and stop looking when you're stressed/it feels hopeless. Time spent not looking allows your brain to put things together subconsciously, so can really help.

Try repeating the sequence of when you last saw it, i.e. go back to bed for a nap, then mime taking it out and putting it somewhere when you wake up. Retrace your steps as immersively as you can.

If they still have the moulds then they should be able to remake the retainer without seeing you, shouldn't they?

My DD lost her bottom retainer, we phoned up the orthodontist and they said they don't keep the moulds 😫

This definitely does not qualify as urgent. Orthodontist will be available by telephone but unlikely to be able to help until chief dental officer announces we can resume face to face treatment.

DD lost hers last month. I found it 5 days later, under her bed. She said it felt a bit tight, but was okay 😅

Stay calm and keep looking. Hope it turns up 🤞

Thanks for all the help. I’ve told her to keep looking & to try not to stress. I’ll phone the orthodontist on Monday to try and get some practical advice if it hasn’t turned up by then. Selfishly hoping that the next lockdown review will announce we can go back to dentists and orthodontists because now DH has started complaining of toothache which is just what we need!

Updating specifically for anyone who’s in the same situation - I rang the orthodontist and the practice is completely shut, not taking calls and simply directing them to an answering machine telling you to call 111 if it’s an emergency. Retainers still nowhere to be found & DD worrying constantly. After doing some googling I’ve found out it’s possible to make moulds and buy retainers online with some companies; does anyone have any experience of this or is able to recommend a company to use?

I can't comment on the retainer companies but I can recommend a particular mouthguard which is remouldable up to twenty or so times, which would keep her teeth in the place they currently are, until the orthodontists open. Pricey but worth it. Used to play roller derby, they're ace.

made4fighters.com/sisu-aero-1-6-nextgen-adult-mouthguard/

Those are the adult ones but they did do smaller ones.

I never worse my retainer after getting my braces taken off. My teeth moved ever so slightly. Does she have a wire glued to the back of her teeth?

I wouldn’t panic. my dd couldn’t wear her for around 2 months due to major surgery (recovery was enough to cope with, without wearing the retainer). It still fit afterwards, a little tight for the first few days but soon settled back in! I’m sure it will turn up eventually

Thanks for the reassurance. Let’s just hope the coronavirus situation continues to improve & that dental/orthodontic care will be available as soon as possible! In the meantime I’ve ordered DD a home mould kit from a site called Biite, more for the sake of her worry levels than anything else. Hopefully that’ll alleviate her stress and any serious problems with tooth movement