My retainer feels tight after not wearing it — what should I do?

Contact your provider as quickly as possible because teeth can begin to move within days without a retainer in place. Your clinician will advise on whether a replacement can be made from existing records or whether a new scan or impression is needed. The process depends on retainer type. Wearing a retainer that no longer fits comfortably is not advised, and a replacement made from old records can be inaccurate if teeth have moved since. If you cannot be seen straight away, ask for advice on interim wear and book the earliest available appointment.

Yes. The retention requirement is the same regardless of the appliance used for active treatment. Teeth have a natural tendency to move back towards their original position, so retainers are needed after any orthodontic treatment to hold the result. With aligners, the last set of trays is often followed by a clear removable retainer made from the final scan, and some practices also place a fixed retainer behind the lower front teeth. Which is used depends on how stable the final position is and how likely the patient is to wear a removable one consistently.