Q: I got my braces off last year. The glue came off on a tooth on one of the retainers glued to my teeth. What do I do?

Dr. Herman's Answer: Make an appointment to come in and in minutes it will be repaired. I use a combination approach to retainers. You get two types of retainers: ones glued to the back of your upper and lower teeth; and removable, clear retainers that you wear only at night. You have a primary and a backup system to your retainers. Some orthodontists use glued on retainers for the lower only. They use a stiff wire glued on in 2 spots. I place both an upper and lower retainer with a flexible wire that is glued on in 6 spots on the lower and 4 spots on the upper. If the glue comes off one tooth or more you are protected. If the glue comes off a tooth be sure to wear the clear retainer at night until the repair is made.