Orthodontics

Haven't worn your retainers as instructed and your teeth have shifted? No problem — we'll just need to take a new scan so your new retainers fit your teeth as they are today. A $45 per-retainer fee applies only when a new scan is required.

Already finished treatment but want to enroll? For a one-time fee of $850 (patients of record only), we'll scan your teeth and get you started with a fresh set of retainers.

As a bonus, 3 tubes of professional-quality whitening gel are included with every Retainer Protection Plan enrollment.

Without the plan, replacement of a full set of retainers starts at $400 — a cost that adds up quickly over a lifetime of retainer wear.

Your teeth are surrounded by a network of fibers (periodontal ligament) and soft tissue (gums) that take time to adjust to their new position. Depending on how much movement occurred, this adaptation period can take years. Because of this, teeth naturally want to move back toward where they started — a process called "relapse." The risk of relapse decreases over time but never fully disappears. Significant rotations, spacing, and open bites carry some of the highest risk. Natural shifting, such as lower front tooth crowding, also occurs simply as we age.

This is why retainers matter so much: they prevent both relapse and the natural changes that happen to tooth position over a lifetime. Lifetime retention is necessary to protect your results long-term.

A set of retainers is included with every course of orthodontic treatment at our office. We use a digital 3D scanner to capture a scan of your teeth and fabricate your custom retainers directly from that digital file — we keep it on record so we can make new retainers for you down the road. At your retainer delivery appointment, we'll walk you through everything you need to know for easy, successful retainer wear.

Keep in mind: retainers wear out and need to be replaced periodically. After treatment, we recommend nightly retainer wear for life — that's a long time! It's not a matter of if you'll need a new retainer someday, but when.

• 5 years of retainer coverage from date of enrollment
• Up to 4 clear retainers per year at no additional cost
• 3 tubes of professional whitening gel
• $45 per-retainer fee only if a new scan is needed because teeth have shifted (vs. starting at $400 per set without the plan) — no fee if we can use the scan on file
• Additional retainers beyond the annual allotment: $200 each / $400 per set

Absolutely — we actually encourage this so it can be included with our flexible financing and fit into your monthly budget.

No, only clear plastic retainers are included. We'd be happy to provide Hawley retainers at the end of treatment instead — just let us know your preference. Clear retainers are recommended for most cases due to their precise fit, comfort, and better retention of teeth that were initially crowded or spaced.

This varies by patient. On average, clear retainers last 2–3 years. Patients who grind their teeth heavily at night may wear through retainers faster. Taking good care of your retainers and following our removal instructions can extend their life.

If you're wearing through retainers at an accelerated rate, we typically recommend a custom night guard, made either in our office or by your regular dentist. A night guard maintains tooth position while offering increased durability and protection.

Rinse with cold or lukewarm water as soon as you remove them, then gently scrub inside and out with a toothbrush and water before rinsing again. Avoid toothpaste — it scratches the plastic, leading to a cloudier appearance and more buildup. Never let saliva or food dry on your retainers. An ultrasonic cleaning pod, denture cleaning tablets, or dish soap on a toothbrush also work well.

No — our retainers are BPA, phthalate, gluten, and latex free.

Yes, when clinically indicated or requested. A fixed retainer is a wire bonded to the inside of the teeth; there's always some risk of debonding from eating certain foods, grinding/clenching, or tooth mobility related to bone loss. Lower fixed retainers are generally about twice as successful as upper ones. Regardless of a fixed retainer, you'll still be instructed to wear removable upper and lower retainers nightly, since a fixed retainer is a backup on the least stable teeth — not a replacement for full retention. We will repair fixed retainers at no charge for up to 1 year after placement; a small fee applies after that, or for removal.

As long as the scan we have on file is still accurate — meaning your current retainer still fits well — we'll fabricate up to 4 clear retainers per year at no additional cost (a $800 value) using that scan. If your teeth have shifted and a new scan is needed, the standard $45 per-retainer fee applies.

No problem — additional retainers are $200 each or $400 per set.

No problem — we'll take a new scan and make a new set of retainers to maintain your teeth in their current position ($45 per-retainer fee applies since a new scan is needed). Retainers retain the position of your teeth rather than moving them, so this locks in wherever your smile is now. If you're interested in correcting shifting, we're happy to evaluate retreatment options. Minor relapses can often be corrected quickly..

As soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely your teeth will drift and no longer match your existing scan on file.

No longer than one week after the scan in most cases.

Because clear retainers fit precisely, we recommend a new scan after any change to your teeth's anatomy. A $45 per-retainer fee applies since a new scan is needed. If your restorative dentist can scan your teeth and email it to us, that saves you a visit — we'll just need to see you once to deliver the new retainer.

Yes. If you've worn your retainers as instructed and your teeth still match your final treatment position, we can use the scan on file to fabricate new retainers and mail them to you. Please let us know of any fit issues within 1 week of receiving them; otherwise we'll consider them a good fit. We recommend always keeping a backup set so you have retainers to wear while a new set is made. If mailed retainers don't fit because your teeth have shifted, we recommend returning for a new scan or consulting a local orthodontist (who will likely charge a fee).

No — the enrollment fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee, and the coverage period cannot be paused.

Of course! Just contact our office and we'll get you set up again.