u/Former_Dragonfly_435 — reddlx

So basically, my top retainer broke last week in a way that I can still technically wear, but it’s loose and seems to dig into my gums so I’ve been wearing it minimally in case the fit could make my teeth worse somehow. I have an appt in 2 weeks to replace them but until then I can only wear my bottom one.

However, due to the fact that I tend to clench my teeth at night, and only having one retainer in tends to put extra stress on certain parts of the remaining retainer, I’ve been wearing it in the 5-6 hours before bed and sleeping without anything in so as not to break that one too. However since then I have noticed some more soreness when wearing the still-working retainer (I’ve probably had them 3-4 years on nights only by now so they’re not new or anything). Is it possible that without the barrier of my retainers I’ve putting more stress on my teeth and possibly pushing them in the wrong directions, making the retainer a tighter fit? Mostly curious since my appt isn’t going to move but also nervous for my teeth that I can’t really keep in place right now.

I’ll attach a photo of the broken retainer if anyone is curious

So I am literally 2.5 weeks out from the end of my semester at uni. So of course what happens? My retainer breaks. It’s a plastic part for roof of mouth +wire frame around teeth nightly one, with one of the metal prongs snapping off completely. It’s an emergency and urgent to get replaced but I’m:

- 4 hours from home

- having one of the busiest scheduled weeks of all semester including both Friday and Sunday

- busy Friday with classes to the point that going home for the weekend would likely require me to skip

- literally just scheduled an appt in 3 weeks to get checked for grinding and possibly fitted for a mouth guard which is a bit long to be going without any correction. With a dentist I’ve only been to one other time (just switched from my peds office) and I’m not even sure I like it much yet, or what records they have since I’m pretty sure I’ve had this same retainer for somewhere going on 4-5 years now

- Now worried the other one is gonna crack too, especially in my sleep, since now my bite is super off with only one in (refer back to possible grinding which could be putting additional stress in my sleep) i might switch to wearing it during the day temporarily to avoid this

- Already got bad news today that stressed me tf out with other appointments to make in the morning

- This is all happening @ 3 am

- nobody else I know is awake so I’m mostly just ranting into the void until my parents wake up tomorrow and can figure out crisis control with me