Retainers Cost

• Removable Hawley retainers (made of hard acrylic molded to fit the patient's mouth plus a visible wire to hold the teeth in position) can cost $150 -$300 or more for one, or $300 -$600 or more for a set (upper and lower). However, a retainer is usually included in the overall braces fee, so there is no additional charge for the first set of retainers -- and some orthodontists include one or two replacements in their standard braces package. If not included, replacement retainers can cost $70 -$250 for one or $140 -$500 or more for a set. Most dental insurance does not cover replacement retainers.
• Removable Essix retainers made of vacuum-formed clear plastic typically cost $100 -$250 for one or $200 -$500 for a set. They are prone to warping or breaking, so they may need replacing to be replaced relatively frequently.
• Vivera clear plastic retainers by Invisalign have an annual fee of $300 -$750, for a new set of identical retainers delivered every three months. Vivera retainers can be used by people whose teeth were straightened by conventional braces as well as those who used Invisalign's series of clear plastic aligner trays.
• Bonded retainers that are glued to the back of the teeth can cost $250 -$500 for one arch or $500 -$1,000 for both upper and lower. (Bonded retainers are often placed on the bottom teeth, with a removable retainer used on top.)
• Using a removable retainer to correct a minor overbite typically involves a series of retainers plus several office visits, X-Rays and fittings. This can cost $500 -$2,500, although in some cases it can be $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity and length of treatment.

• Orthodontists may use a combination of different retainers to get the best results in terms of retaining the straight alignment created by braces. Hawley retainers have a visible wire in front of the teeth; are the most common and most durable; and can be adjusted by the orthodontist to make minor tooth movements. Clear plastic retainers are nearly invisible when in place, but cannot be adjusted and do not let the teeth touch in a natural way. Fixed/bonded retainers are virtually invisible but require meticulous cleaning and may irritate the tongue. ArchWired.com provides an overview of retainers.
• Removable retainers are made using an impression of the patient's mouth. Fixed/bonded retainers are glued to the back of the teeth, cannot be removed by the patient and must be carefully brushed and flossed on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of plaque and food debris around the wires. A video illustrates the installation and flossing process for fixed braces.
• Removable retainers are typically worn 24 hours a day for the first three to nine months, then at night or for a few hours a day, depending on the orthodontist's instructions. If the retainer isn't worn as required, the teeth may return to their old positions and it could be necessary to wear braces again. Many patients need to wear their removable retainers a few nights a week for the rest of their lives.
• With fixed/bonded retainers, some orthodontists switch the patient to removable retainers after six months or a year. Others leave the bonded retainers in place until at least a year after the patient's wisdom teeth have fully erupted or been extracted (typically age 18-25), and if there are no problems fixed retainers may be left in place for the patient's lifetime.

• A plastic case is typically provided with the retainer, but extra cases ($1 -$10) can be useful, to avoid losing or accidentally discarding the retainer.
• If the wire on a bonded retainers breaks or comes loose, repairs need to be done immediately and can cost $75 -$250 or more.

• There can be a discount (typically $50 -$150) off the total for ordering two sets of retainers at once, so the patient has a back-up set. (Retainers are at high risk of being lost or misplaced.)

• Retainers are generally part of an orthodontic braces package. Search for local members of the American Association of Orthodontists.

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