Teeth Retainers in Shelby Township, MI
*For new patients only. Patients transferring from another orthodontist: $250 consultation fee, credited toward treatment if they start here.
Retainer Types at Fredal Orthodontics
A retainer is a custom appliance you wear after braces or aligners. There are three kinds here. Clear Essix retainers are made in the office. Vivera retainers are made by Align Technology. The third kind is a fixed (bonded) retainer. Orthodontic specialist Dr. Thomas Fredal Jr. prefers removable ones. Each price covers one arch, meaning the upper or the lower teeth.
Essix Clear Retainer
A clear, removable retainer made in the office. It is the only kind you can get the same visit.
Pricing is the same for both in-house retainers and Vivera retainers. Dr. Fredal will recommend the most appropriate option for each patient on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration clinical needs and the required timing for retainer delivery.
Vivera Retainer
Manufactured by Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign. Vivera retainers are custom-made from a digital scan and use the same base material as Essix retainers. They can be ordered individually as needed, with a turnaround of approximately 3 to 5 business days.
Fixed (Bonded) Retainer
Included in the treatment fee for certain cases when clinically indicated. When a fixed retainer is not part of the treatment plan but is requested by the patient, the fee is $750 per arch; each one is custom designed by a lab.
A fixed retainer is a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth.
How Essix and Invisalign Retainers Are Made
Fredal Orthodontics makes Essix retainers in the office. The practice prints models of your teeth on its own SprintRay 3D printer and uses them to make the retainers. Each clear retainer is thermoformed, meaning heated and shaped, over its printed model.
With braces, your retainer scan is taken the day the braces come off, and the retainers are made in the office. With Invisalign, your teeth are scanned the day the attachments (small tooth-colored shapes bonded to some teeth) are removed. Vivera retainers, the Invisalign brand of retainer, are then ordered.
Paid replacement program
Retainer Insurance
Retainer Insurance is a paid program for replacement retainers. It costs $790 and runs for 7 years. With the program, each new retainer is a $40 copay, and you can receive one new set per quarter. Without it, a replacement retainer is $225 per arch.
How Long to Wear Your Retainer
What To Expect at the Retainer Visit
Retainer Pricing
One set of Essix retainers is included at the end of comprehensive treatment (full orthodontic treatment). Retainers are priced per arch. Fredal Orthodontics accepts HSA and FSA funds.
| Retainer | Price | Turnaround & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essix | $225/arch | Replacement retainer, made in the office. An upper and lower pair is $450. |
| Vivera Retainer | $225/arch | Align Technology (Invisalign brand). New scan required. Turnaround 3 to 5 business days. |
| Fixed (Bonded) Upper | $750 | Included in the treatment fee for certain cases when clinically indicated; $750 per arch when requested but not part of the treatment plan. |
| Fixed (Bonded) Lower | $750 | Included in the treatment fee for certain cases when clinically indicated; $750 per arch when requested but not part of the treatment plan. |
Retainer FAQ
How much does a retainer cost at Fredal Orthodontics?
A replacement retainer is $225 per arch, or $450 for an upper and lower pair. Vivera retainers are $225 per arch (3 to 5 business days, new scan required).
Fixed (bonded) retainers are $750 upper and $750 lower, and they are included in the treatment fee for certain cases when clinically indicated. One set of Essix retainers is included at the end of comprehensive treatment.
When is the scan for my retainers taken?
On the day your braces or attachments come off. With braces, your teeth are scanned the same day the braces are removed, and the retainers are made in the office. With Invisalign, the scan is taken the day your attachments come off, and Vivera retainers are ordered. Essix retainers are the only kind you can get at that same visit.
How long do I need to wear my retainer?
For life. Dr. Fredal’s standard plan is full-time wear for the first 1 to 3 months. After that, you wear your retainers at night for life. If you have a fixed retainer, he also recommends a removable Essix or Vivera retainer over it.
What is the difference between Essix and Vivera?
The difference is who makes them. Fredal Orthodontics makes Essix retainers in the office. Vivera retainers are made by Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign. Vivera ships from Align Technology’s central manufacturing and takes 3 to 5 business days.
Both are removable retainers, and the price is the same. Vivera retainers use the same base material as Essix retainers.
Should I get a fixed (bonded) retainer?
Dr. Fredal prefers removable retainers. He may recommend a fixed retainer for teeth that are more prone to relapse, meaning shifting back after treatment. This is particularly so for patients who began treatment with generalized spacing (gaps between many teeth) or severe crowding (not enough room for the teeth).
If you want a fixed retainer that is not clinically necessary, a lab-made one is $750 per arch.
What if I lose my retainer?
If you lose your retainer, a replacement is $225 per arch. If you cannot wait for a lab, the office can make a retainer in-house. Losing a retainer is the most common retainer problem at Fredal Orthodontics. With Retainer Insurance, a $790 program that runs for 7 years, each new retainer is a $40 copay, and you can receive one new set per quarter.
Need a Retainer?
Book online or call/text Fredal Orthodontics to schedule a visit.
*For new patients only. Patients transferring from another orthodontist: $250 consultation fee, credited toward treatment if they start here.