DS lost his retainer in the ocean!

[torinsmom]

So, my son just got his braces off three weeks ago and got his retainers. On Monday night, a piece of the bottom one broke off, so we had to make a trip in to the ortho. He was able to fix it. DS14 told the ortho he was going to the beach and asked if he should take the retainers out to go in the ocean. Ortho said no, they would be fine. Well.....DS just called me(he is at the beach with his cousins) and a wave hit him and knocked him forward and his bottom retainer flew out of his mouth.

Ortho is on vacation and DS is 3 hours away until Saturday anyway. Part of me thinks they shouldn't charge me for a new one, because DS specifically asked about this situation. Maybe they don't charge for the first replacement anyway, I don't know.....All I need is another budget buster, when one of my cat's has already got me in for $400!

Marsha

 

[Jillpie]

I feel for you, my son just got his off too. But, your real concern shouldn't be the cost right now, it should be getting him into his Ortho's covering doctor immediately. His teeth are going to start to shift very soon and the longer you wait, the more permanent the damage will be. Deal with the cost issue after, just get those retainers back in his mouth ASAP!

 

[Serena]

I'm sure the doctor didn't image a wave doing that. But, forgive me, I had to laugh, the image that came immediately to mind was a fish wearing a new retainer.

 

[torinsmom]

I feel for you, my son just got his off too. But, your real concern shouldn't be the cost right now, it should be getting him into his Ortho's covering doctor immediately. His teeth are going to start to shift very soon and the longer you wait, the more permanent the damage will be. Deal with the cost issue after, just get those retainers back in his mouth ASAP!

Well, he is at the beach, 3 hours away, which means 6 hours round trip and I cannot get there tomorrow. Earliest I can get him in is Monday morning. He is still wearing the top one, and luckily, his bottom teeth were not a big problem(I didn't even feel like he needed braces on the bottom) I am just going to pray that they won't move much. He has been so good about wearing them all the time and keeping them in the case when he was eating, so this really bites!

Marsha

 

[torinsmom]

I'm sure the doctor didn't image a wave doing that. But, forgive me, I had to laugh, the image that came immediately to mind was a fish wearing a new retainer.

He picked black too, so that should give you an even funnier image. My sis left her number with the beach patrol in case someone finds it, LOL

Marsha

 

[buzzlady]

I wouldn't worry about him coming home. He can wait until Monday. It will be a few weeks before he gets a new one anyway. They have to have it made.

DS lost his first one and broke his second one. First one was paid for through the initial cost. It was $175 to replace it.

 

[Jillpie]

Well, he is at the beach, 3 hours away, which means 6 hours round trip and I cannot get there tomorrow. Earliest I can get him in is Monday morning. He is still wearing the top one, and luckily, his bottom teeth were not a big problem(I didn't even feel like he needed braces on the bottom) I am just going to pray that they won't move much. He has been so good about wearing them all the time and keeping them in the case when he was eating, so this really bites!

Marsha[/QUOTE

Ya I get the distance problem, that stinks. So I guess all you can do is mention to his doc that he asked him that very question, then hope for the best. Personally I think it's a crime what they charge to replace them! Good luck and let us know what happens, ok?

 

[torinsmom]

I'll let you know what happens. I'm going to look through his paperwork and see what it says about retainers.

Before I took him in for the broken retainer, I asked the assistant what they would do if they couldn't fix it and she said they could put in a permanent retainer in the office until the new one came in. I am assuming they meant permanent as in it wouldn't come out of his mouth when he ate.

Marsha

 

[olena]

I keep envisioning a shark out there with a straighter smile.

 

[Jillpie]

I'll let you know what happens. I'm going to look through his paperwork and see what it says about retainers.

Before I took him in for the broken retainer, I asked the assistant what they would do if they couldn't fix it and she said they could put in a permanent retainer in the office until the new one came in. I am assuming they meant permanent as in it wouldn't come out of his mouth when he ate.

Marsha

Oh my son got the permanent one on the lower teeth, its terrific! You never have to worry about it being lost, and you can't even see it. I really love the whole idea. He does have a removable top one though, he's been very good with it. Anyway, good luck on Monday, I'm sure they'll be very flexible with the cost.

 

[torinsmom]

From the paperwork I have, it looks like since I repaid the retainer fee, first replacement is 50% off. Don't know the original price though. I am not going to go in yelling and screaming about getting it free, but I will remind him that my son asked him specifically about it. Hopefully, he will be kind.

Marsha

 

[annej]

I feel your pain! My DD did the exact same thing with hers. Of course she tried to make it my fault since i had told her she needed to be wearing it Go figure! We too joked about a fish wearing her retainer, her brothers hat and my sunglasses. All items lost that year!

 

[torinsmom]

So, I called and it looks like a replacement with be $200 before the discount and the receptionist didn't know what the discount was. He has an ortho covering for him, but she said if he gets a new retainer impression and retainer there, we will have to pick it up there, and she said there would be additional charges since he is not our original ortho. I guess he is dealing with broken brackets and things like that, not bigger issues, unless he is paid.

So....she said to buy a boil and bite mouthguard for him to use until the appt. She said for him to wear it at night at least and it would help some with keeping the teeth in position.

Ugh, the joys of a teenager!

Marsha

 

[Deb in IA]

We were on vacation last year, and a wire broke on DS's retainer, and was poking him in the cheek. We happened to be with a dentist from the same practice as our orthodontist, and he took a pair of wire cutters and cut off the broken wire. When we got back, we had to get the retainer replaced - and pay $150.

 

[MsLeFever]

The same thing happened to my uncle with his false teeth! He got lucky and someone actually turned them in to a lost and found at the beach!

 

[torinsmom]

The same thing happened to my uncle with his false teeth! He got lucky and someone actually turned them in to a lost and found at the beach!

We can only hope it will be turned in, but a retainer is so light, I don't know if it would wash up.

Marsha