Metal Mouth Message Board

This morning I took my Essix retainer (the clear plastic kind) out and just as I was about to clean it, I noticed that it was cracked.

It's been TEN DAYS!

The weirdest thing is that at the start, it took more force to get it on and off, but lately - including this morning - it has come off much more easily. It still takes a tug, but I don't have to spend ages yanking it out like formerly.

And now a huge crack, right down the middle of the front teeth.

And it's the weekend here, so I can't call my orthodontist until Sunday

Well, I'm wearing it now, and it still felt slightly tight when I put it on (which always happens if I haven't worn it for a few hours).

I figure that the sides of it are intact and probably working at least 90% as much as they should be, so the back/side teeth will hopefully be ok, and the front teeth have a permanent retainer behind them, so fingers crossed they won't go all weird in the next few days.

I also forgot that it's Eid (muslim holiday) all next week here - or at least several days - which will probably make it tricky to get a replacement very quickly.

Maybe I should ask for a thicker one?

And now a huge crack, right down the middle of the front teeth.

Wow, mine cracked in the front too! I called my ortho and they said that since I am going to need a new one after my new crown (I get that Tuesday), no rush to get a new one made. I am wearing the "temp retainer" the ortho made for me when my braces first came off. I think the plastic on the essix gets dry and brittle over time. However, mine was much older than 10 days old!