[Anna1185]

Hi all! This is my first time posting!

I got my braces off when I was 15. Had a permanent wire retainer on my bottom teeth and a removable plastic wire one for my top. I wore it constantly until I was around 18 and then lost it. Asked the ortho for a new one and he said I didn't need it anymore...so I didn't bother to get a new one. The guy's obviously a quack because my left front tooth is starting to overlap my other one, and I'm really freaking out.

So a few years back, I recover my lost retainer, which just fell on the side of my bed. Stupid me. I should have put it back in right then and there but I stuck it in a drawer instead and never wore it again.

A few days ago, I put it back in my mouth. And boy was it tight...the pain was horrendous. But I kept it in because it still kinda fit. I mean yeah it was really tight and it wouldn't completely snap into place on one side because the gap in the two teeth that the wire went between was not there...so I guess it was kinda in there lop-sided. Not the best thing, but it still fit so I figured what the crap, I'll just keep it in...and I did.

Now a few days later, it doesn't hurt as much when I put it in at night to sleep, but it still aches a bit. It's a lot easier to take out, as I seem to be able to just pop it out with my tongue now as opposed to tugging it out with my fingers, but the wire still won't snap in all the way on the right side because like I said, the gap in between my teeth is no longer there. I want to know if this is harming my teeth in any way. I plan on calling my ortho tomorrow morning but I've been wearing this thing for a week already so I wanna get some info ASAP.

I don't want to be causing more damage to my teeth or misaligning them in any way, I just want my tooth to go back to normal. I've been hearing mixed reviews about wearing an old retainer, especially since I haven't worn it in 3 years...some say to do it, it'll get easier to put in and out and it'll shift my teeth back. Others say not and that I'll pay for it in the long run. I just don't see how it can be bad? I figured eventually my teeth will shift and the gap will open back up, allowing my retainer to snap into place like it usually does...but I just don't want my teeth to get worse by wearing a lop-sided retainer.

I need some help!

Sorry this is so long. I just want to be as detailed as possible.

I also don't have my wisdom teeth removed, in case anybody was wondering. They don't give me trouble so my dentist said not to play around with them.

Thanks for any help you can give me!!