The replacement cost of your retainer depends on the type of retainer you chose to begin with, but these are the average costs of replacing different types of retainers: Hawley retainers: $150–$300. Clear plastic retainers: $100–$250. Permanent retainers: $250–$500.
The answer is yes; you can get a new retainer from a different orthodontist. The new orthodontist will likely want you to come in person for an evaluation before making your new retainer. First, you'll need to fill out paperwork, talk about your teeth, and discuss the type of retainer replacement you need.
The main factor in how much teeth retainers cost is the dentist markup. Dentists with large overheads naturally have a higher markup. Most of the removable retainer types are not made in the dentist's office, but rather off-site at a dental lab. These labs take an impression and turn it into a retainer.
How Much Do Retainers Cost? The cost of retainers differs depending upon your specific needs. But to give you some idea, the average cost of a permanent, bonded retainer varies from $150 – $500. This means that the most you might pay for retainers on both your upper and lower teeth are $1000.
Why are Retainers so Expensive? The relatively high price of retainers provided through an orthodontist may be surprising. However, these devices are custom-made to fit and retain your corrected bite. The price may vary depending on your provider and other factors.
The most obvious benefit to fixed retainers is that they stay in your mouth 24/7, which means you can't lose them during lunch! It also means they're continuously keeping your teeth in perfect position. Because they are so small, they tend to be much more comfortable than removable retainers.
The First 2 Years: After your initial time of full-time wear, you will be able to start wearing your retainers during sleep only. From the Third Year to the Rest of Your Life: Now, you can wear your retainers a little bit less. Skipping an occasional night or two is no big deal.
A retainer is in the mouth for 6-8 hours nightly. Therefore, we recommend you replace your retainer as often as your toothbrush. Retainer Club offers plans to replace your retainers every 4,6, or 12 months. For the best performance and cleanliness, you should replace your retainers as often as your toothbrush.
These removable acrylic retainers are often replaced around 8 years. Essix retainers (removable clear retainers, similar to Invisalign®) typically last about 3 years before they need to be replaced.
For most patients, including those at Hess Orthodontics, the initial cost of retainers is included in the overall orthodontic treatment price. However, replacements for damaged or lost retainers are usually paid for out of pocket, and every 3 to 5 years, you will need to replace your retainer with a new model.
Do Orthodontist Keep Retainer Molds? In the case of removable retainers, patients can call their orthodontist and ask that a new one be made, as all good orthodontist will keep patients molds over the period of treatment, something that can not always be said for online providers.
Nightly Wear
You should wear your retainers nightly for at least a year. After that, you can shift your wear to every other night or so. After a few years, most individuals choose to wear theirs at night around three to five times a week.
If the retainer breaks, the point is this: book an appointment with the dentist immediately to have it checked. The dental professional will work on repairing or replacing it to keep your teeth aligned.
The retainer cost can be anywhere from $100 to $500, give or take a bit on either end. The cheapest retainers for teeth are usually Hawley retainers, with Essix, Vivera, and lingual retainers costing more. Vivera retainers can cost up to $1,000, but that's because you have to purchase a set of four.
Once the orthodontist has a proper model of your teeth, they can produce a replacement retainer. This may be done in-house or by an outside lab. In-house tends to be a quicker turnaround time, while an outside lab just means you'll have to wait a few extra days to get your replacement retainers in.
Retainers keep your smile in place when active treatment is complete. Adults need to wear their retainers for life, but adolescents may be able to stop wearing them after about 10 years.
Can You Wear an Old Retainer? You can usually continue to use your retainer as long as it has not been broken and still fits into your mouth, even if it is a little bit uncomfortable.
A few months or years: Don't even attempt to wear an old retainer if it's been several months or years! It's very unlikely to fit, and it could become stuck, cause pain, and even potentially damage your teeth and tissues. Instead, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist and take your old retainer with you.
If you neglect to wear your retainer, your teeth may move back into their original position. This is what may happen if you do not wear your retainer after treatment with braces. Your teeth will begin to move back into their initial place as soon as your braces are removed.
In particular, plastic retainers can last for 4-5 years if you take proper care of them. Understanding that your oral hygiene routine plays a key role in keeping your retainers up-to-date is vital. Plastic retainers are custom-made, just like your Invisalign.
As long as your retainer doesn't hurt and still fits over your teeth, you can wear it even if it feels tight. This probably means that your teeth have shifted. In this case, you should wear your retainer longer each day to prevent your teeth from moving further.
If the cracked retainer split, you should stop wearing it. Not only will you expose your gums to possible injuries, but it's also useless as it can no longer hold your teeth in position. You must leave broken retainer repair to experts.
The benefits of bonded retainers
"Retention is a very important part of the orthodontic treatment," says Dr. Grauer. Aside from maintaining the position of the teeth that was corrected through prior orthodontic methods like braces, bonded retainers can help maintain the health of your teeth, gums, and bones.
Durability: In terms of durability, Hawley retainers and permanent retainers will last longer compared to clear retainers. Though clear retainers do protect against teeth grinding at night, this will wear the retainers down even faster.