Retainers Cost: Prices With & Without Insurance

A retainer is the custom-made appliance that holds teeth in position after braces or clear aligners come off. Most people meet the cost twice: once as part of finishing orthodontic treatment, and again later if a retainer is lost, cracked or no longer fits.

The bill depends on a handful of things: whether the retainer is bonded to the teeth or removable, whether it covers one arch or both, and whether it comes from an orthodontic office or an online provider. Some orthodontists fold the first set into the total treatment fee, so the first question is always whether your original quote already includes retainers.

Three kinds cover most cases, and each is priced differently.

• Permanent (bonded) retainer. A thin wire is cemented to the back of the teeth, usually the lower front ones. The price in the table is for one arch.
• Removable retainer. Clear plastic trays or wire-and-acrylic versions that you take out. The figure shown is the initial cost, which is why replacement pricing is listed separately below.
• Invisalign retainers. Offices that finished your treatment with Invisalign often supply their own branded retainers, and they tend to price higher than a basic clear tray.

A bonded retainer is a one-time fitting, but repairs or re-bonding after a wire comes loose can mean extra visits. Ask whether those visits are billed separately or covered for a set period.

Replacing a retainer is where prices spread most. An orthodontic office has to see you, take a new impression or scan and order the appliance, so the fee reflects both the appliance and the appointment. Online providers skip the office visit by mailing an impression kit, which is why their prices sit lower.

At an orthodontic office, a basic clear replacement is priced per arch, and offices that charge more per arch generally sit at the top of the second range. If you need both upper and lower, double the per-arch number before you compare it with an online "both arches" price.

Online options on the list are SmileSet, Retainers Direct and SportingSmiles. Prices are what those companies advertised in the source, and shipping, taxes and add-ons such as cases or rush production may be billed separately. Some online providers require a recent scan or an existing retainer to copy, and results depend on the quality of the impression you take, so read the return and remake policy before ordering. An orthodontist or dentist can tell you whether an online appliance is appropriate for your situation.

Dental insurance and retainers do not always go together. Plans that include orthodontic benefits may pay part of treatment, and whether a retainer counts as part of that benefit varies by plan. Some plans cap orthodontic coverage at a lifetime maximum, so a benefit already used up on braces may leave nothing for a replacement. Plans may also exclude replacement appliances altogether.

Before you book, call the insurer and ask three things:

• Does the plan cover retainers, and does it treat a replacement differently from the first set?
• Is there a lifetime orthodontic maximum, and how much of it is left?
• Does the office have to be in network?

If you have a flexible spending account or health savings account, retainer costs may be eligible. Check the plan rules or ask your administrator.

Published ranges rarely match because each source defines the product a little differently.

Differences may come from whether a source counts only the appliance or the whole visit, whether the figure is per arch or for both, and whether a bonded retainer is mixed in with removable ones. Regional pricing and the type of provider also push numbers around. Use the ranges to sanity-check a quote.

• Material. Clear plastic trays, wire-and-acrylic styles and bonded wires use different materials and lab work.
• Number of arches. One arch costs less than two, but online providers often discount the pair.
• Provider type. Orthodontic offices charge for the appointment, scan and follow-up. Online companies charge mainly for the appliance.
• Whether treatment is complete. Retainers issued at the end of treatment are often bundled in the original fee.
• Rush or remake fees. Fast turnaround and fit adjustments can add charges.

1. Is the retainer already included in my treatment fee?
2. Is the price per arch or for both?
3. What happens if it does not fit when it arrives, and who pays for the remake?
4. How long are adjustments or repairs covered?
5. Can I get a written estimate that lists the scan, the appliance and any follow-up visits separately?

Getting two quotes, one from your orthodontist and one from an online provider, takes a few minutes and shows how large the gap is in your area.